ABOP chairman Ronnie Brunswijk believes that President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons should have intervened earlier in the conflict involving former director Wendy Jap-A-Joe of the Telecommunicatie Autoriteit Suriname (TAS). According to him, a clear instruction from the head of state could have prevented the matter from ultimately having to be fought out in court.
Brunswijk responded in an interview with TBN on Tuesday, October 27, to the court rulings issued a day earlier. He indicated that he had expected a different outcome, but at the same time stressed that judicial decisions must be respected.
The ABOP chairman says he is surprised by the ruling because he sees parallels with an earlier lawsuit concerning the directorship of another government institution. He believes the judge could have taken that earlier ruling into account in the assessment.
Nevertheless, Brunswijk accepts the judgment. According to him, those involved can make use of the available legal options, including an appeal and proceedings on the merits.
President should have provided clarity
Brunswijk states that it was already known during the political allocation of positions that Jap-A-Joe’s appointment would not be extended. According to him, the president should therefore have indicated in good time when she was to end her duties and how the handover was to take place.
“The president set all this in motion,” Brunswijk stated.
He stressed that, in his view, the TAS directorship was not a position to which ABOP laid claim. His party, he said, only wanted an orderly handover to take place.
According to Brunswijk, the problems arose because Jap-A-Joe did not receive clear instructions from the head of state regarding her departure. He believes the president should have taken a more explicit position.
Judge ordered handover
The cantonal judge ruled on Monday, October 26, that Jap-A-Joe’s term of appointment had ended by operation of law on October 20, 2026. She may no longer act on behalf of TAS and was required to leave the building within 24 hours and hand over the relevant company assets and documents to the Raad van Commissarissen (Supervisory Board).
The employment agreement on which Jap-A-Joe relies has provisionally been suspended until a decision is made in proceedings on the merits regarding its legal validity.
ABOP wants to look for another position
Brunswijk further stated that ABOP is prepared to look for another workplace for Jap-A-Joe.
He pointed out that, in addition to government institutions, other state-owned companies also offer possibilities. According to him, Jap-A-Joe carried out her duties at TAS well.
Regarding the future leadership of TAS, Brunswijk said that the organisation must not be left rudderless. He referred to the legal possibility that the Raad van Commissarissen may temporarily assume management until a new director has been appointed.
