Brunswijk: ‘No dismissal of Jap-A-Joe without a presidential resolution’

In an interview with ABC Suriname, he sharply criticised the attempt to remove Jap-A-Joe from her office on Monday. According to him, clear agreements were also made with President Jennifer Simons on how to handle the matter.

“If that lady has to go, then a dismissal resolution must be issued,” Brunswijk stressed during the interview. He states that as long as such a decision is absent, Jap-A-Joe can continue carrying out her duties as director.

According to Brunswijk, he also discussed this with the vice president on Monday because he could not reach President Simons. The vice president reportedly confirmed to him that a formal procedure must be followed to terminate the directorship.

“If that lady has to go, then a dismissal resolution must be issued; only then can we talk,” the vice president reportedly indicated, according to Brunswijk.

Criticism of police action at TAS

The ABOP chairman reacted fiercely to the events of Monday, 19 October, which, according to him, involved police officers in an attempt to remove Jap-A-Joe from her office.

Brunswijk believes the police exceeded their authority in doing so. According to him, an eviction can only take place when there is a court ruling and a bailiff asks the police for assistance.

“When you want to evict someone, you must have a ruling from the court. Then the bailiff comes to the police for assistance,” he stated.

He advised Jap-A-Joe to inform the police chief in writing about the conduct of the police officers involved. According to Brunswijk, it must be investigated on what basis the police are involved in the matter.

President-commissioner Emanuel Scheek also received criticism. Brunswijk believes Scheek handled the matter in the wrong way. He stressed that administrators must adhere to the applicable procedures, regardless of their views on a director’s performance.

Brunswijk disputes end of appointment term

The discussion over the directorship arose after the RvC announced that Jap-A-Joe’s five-year appointment term expired on 19 October 2026. According to the board, from 20 October she is no longer authorised to represent TAS, sign documents or enter into financial obligations on behalf of the organisation.

Brunswijk disputes that interpretation. He states that notice periods must be taken into account in an appointment and that failure to give timely notice may, according to him, lead to a tacit extension of five years.

He referred to an earlier matter involving a director, in which, according to his statement, a judge had ruled that the appointment had been tacitly extended. Brunswijk believes a similar situation may arise at TAS. Whether this legal interpretation also applies to Jap-A-Joe’s appointment, however, remains uncertain.

ABOP has agreements with President Simons

Brunswijk further announced that ABOP held an evaluation meeting with President Jennifer Simons last week. During that consultation, he said, the position of Jap-A-Joe and the investigation into developments within TAS were among the matters discussed.

According to him, ABOP has no objection to an investigation, provided Jap-A-Joe cooperates with it. He states that a clear course was set during the meeting with the president for the further handling of the matter. “I trust the president and we have agreements,” Brunswijk said on ABC Suriname.

For that very reason, he does not understand why the RvC took steps on Monday to remove Jap-A-Joe from her office. According to him, that course of action deviates from what was discussed during the meeting with the president. The content of the agreements has not yet been officially confirmed by the president’s cabinet.

Jap-A-Joe, according to Brunswijk, simply at work

Despite the RvC’s announcement, Jap-A-Joe reported to work as usual on Tuesday, 20 October, according to Brunswijk. He says he spoke with her by telephone that morning.

“She is at work this morning. I just called,” he stated. The ABOP chairman stressed that his party is not seeking confrontation and is awaiting further decision-making.

According to Brunswijk, the positions of other ABOP-affiliated directors at government institutions were also discussed during the evaluation meeting with President Simons. He mentioned Canawaima and other institutions where, according to him, attempts are being made to replace directors.

Cooperation within the government and quorum issues in De Nationale Assemblée (Suriname’s parliament) were also discussed, according to him. Brunswijk states that ABOP and the president found common ground on several points during the meeting.

For now, a difference of opinion remains between the RvC and Brunswijk over Jap-A-Joe’s legal position. While the board states that her appointment term has ended, the ABOP chairman maintains that without a formal dismissal decision, there can be no question of her departure. This once again places the question of how the directorship at TAS should be arranged before the government.