In an interview with TBN Prime, Brunswijk addressed on Thursday, November 12, the political developments surrounding Monorath, the position of President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons and the next steps ABOP will take.
Since it became clear that Monorath will step down from his position, there has been extensive speculation on social media about his possible successor. Among others, the name of Deputy Minister Kelvin Koniki has been mentioned. However, there has been no official confirmation that Koniki is actually being considered as a candidate by the party leadership.
Brunswijk does not want to anticipate possible candidates and emphasises that the choice will not be made on the basis of reports and suggestions appearing on social media.
According to the ABOP chairman, his party has sufficient personnel to fill the ministerial post again. He referred to the approximately 31,000 people who, according to him, are affiliated with the party, including several lawyers.
“We have 31,000 people in the party. And there are many lawyers among them,” Brunswijk said.
The party chairman emphasised that internal consultations must take place first before a final nomination can be made.
ABOP accepts president’s decision under protest
Although attention is now shifting to Monorath’s succession, Brunswijk maintains that the minister’s departure was not necessary.
According to him, documents were submitted during several talks with President Simons that allegedly refuted the accusations against Monorath. The ABOP chairman states that, based on the facts presented, there are insufficient legal grounds to dismiss the minister.
Brunswijk therefore disagrees with the president’s conclusion that Monorath’s position has become untenable.
“I do not believe it is untenable,” he told TBN Prime.
At the same time, he acknowledges that the president has the authority to appoint and dismiss ministers. To avoid further confrontation, ABOP has decided, according to him, to accept the political decision.
“We have chosen to go along with it, albeit under protest,” the party chairman said.
Public opinion decisive according to Brunswijk
The ABOP leader believes that it was not the legal facts, but primarily public opinion that determined President Simons’ position.
According to Brunswijk, the president indicated during the talks that the social pressure surrounding Monorath had by now become so great that his position was no longer tenable.
Brunswijk says he does not share that reasoning. He believes the matter should be assessed on the basis of facts, documents and legal arguments.
“I will look at it purely from a business perspective, purely legally,” he stated.
The party chairman emphasised that, in the case of a dishonourable dismissal, it must be clearly indicated which actions the minister committed that are unacceptable. According to him, this has so far been insufficiently established.
He described Monorath as one of the best ministers within the government, who in his view had done good work at one of the most difficult ministries.
Monorath may be asked to step down himself
Brunswijk indicated that ABOP will consult with Monorath about the possibility of stepping down from his position himself.
“I think we are going to ask him to take a step back,” he said.
According to Brunswijk, a voluntary departure could prevent the impression that the minister is being removed from office because culpable conduct has been proven.
The party thus wants to seek a solution that takes the president’s decision into account, without having to abandon its own assessment of the accusations against Monorath.
Ministerial post must remain with ABOP
Earlier on Thursday, the ABOP chairman made it clear that, under the coalition agreements, the Justice and Security portfolio belongs to his party. Monorath’s departure therefore does not mean, according to him, that another coalition partner can automatically claim this ministerial post.
According to Brunswijk, the eventual candidate must be discussed within the party.
It therefore remains unclear for the time being whether ABOP will nominate a sitting officeholder, such as Koniki, or choose someone else from its own ranks.
TAS affair triggers political crisis
Monorath’s announced departure follows developments surrounding the Telecommunicatie Autoriteit Suriname (TAS), where he previously served as president-commissioner.
The current Supervisory Board of TAS has filed a criminal complaint against Monorath and former director Wendy Jap-A-Joe. The complaint is connected, among other things, to a controversial employment contract from 2021 and possible irregularities in decision-making.
Monorath has denied the accusations of acting without authority. According to him, he acted at the time on the basis of official decisions and authorisations obtained. The criminal complaint does not mean that criminal acts have been proven.
During the coalition summit on Wednesday, November 11, it became clear that the governing parties were divided over Monorath’s political future.
Key News reported earlier that Brunswijk considers the announced departure unjustified, but respects the authority of President Simons.
The president announced on Thursday that Monorath had indicated that he would submit his resignation, because, according to her, his position had become untenable.
The upcoming discussions within ABOP must show whom the party will nominate for the Justice and Security portfolio. Until then, the names circulating on social media remain unconfirmed suggestions.
