Council of Ministers rejects suspension of TAS director Wendy Jap A Joe

The suspension of TAS director Wendy Jap A Joe was not approved on Wednesday, August 26, by the Council of Ministers (RvM). Minister Raymond Landveld of Transport, Communication and Tourism raised the proposal during the meeting, but the grounds put forward did not convince the Council of Ministers to agree to the proposed measure.

The request for suspension came from the Supervisory Board (RvC) of the Telecommunication Authority Suriname (TAS). The board has been urging measures against Jap A Joe for several months and has expressed serious criticism of the way in which, according to the supervisor, the organization is managed and its finances are accounted for.

The RvC states, among other things, that there are backlogs in TAS’s financial reporting. It also claims that an up-to-date annual account is lacking and that the provision of information to the supervisor is insufficient. In addition, the board states that various decisions are not or insufficiently implemented and that an independent investigation into financial management would be hampered.

Suspension of TAS director off the table for now

With the RvM’s decision, the suspension of TAS director is off the table for the time being. This means that Jap A Joe will continue to perform her duties as long as no other decision is made regarding her position at the telecommunications watchdog.

The conflict between the director and the RvC has been ongoing for some time. In June, the board requested an independent investigation into TAS’s financial management for the period from 2020 through 2025. At the same time, it requested that the legal procedure for the suspension or dismissal of Jap A Joe be initiated.

RvC criticizes TAS financial management

According to the supervisor, an independent investigation is necessary to obtain clarity on the governance, financial administration and provision of information within the organization. The RvC states that it cannot properly carry out its supervisory duties when requested information is not made available in a timely or complete manner.

As an independent authority, TAS holds an important position within Suriname’s telecommunications sector. The organization oversees, among other things, permits, concession conditions, frequency management and other components of telecommunications policy. More information on the legal framework can be found on the website of the Telecommunication Authority Suriname.

The Council of Ministers did not accept the grounds put forward for suspension.

Jap A Joe legally challenges allegations

Jap A Joe has not simply accepted the allegations made by the RvC. She has taken six of the seven commissioners to court in summary proceedings. The director states that various remarks about her performance are unfounded and have damaged her reputation.

In the proceedings, she is requesting, among other things, a public rectification and a ban on further statements about her performance. She is also seeking compensation. As a result, alongside the administrative conflict within TAS, legal proceedings are also underway between the director and the majority of the supervisory board.

Administrative conflict within TAS continues

The rejection of the suspension of TAS director does not automatically mean that the underlying conflict has been resolved. The RvC’s criticism of financial management and the provision of information remains, while Jap A Joe in turn questions the manner in which the supervisor has acted.

Tensions within the organization had previously also come to light through discussions about financial transactions and the relationship between management and oversight. Key News previously reported on issues surrounding financial management and the annual closing at TAS.

RvM has a role in key personnel decisions

The position of the Council of Ministers is significant in major decisions concerning TAS leadership. The Telecommunications Facilities Act regulates, among other things, the relationship between the minister, the Supervisory Board and the authority’s management. It also stipulates that the board oversees TAS’s governance and management.

The RvM’s refusal to agree at this time to the suspension of TAS director therefore constitutes a new development in an administrative conflict that has now continued for several months. It remains to be seen whether the RvC will come forward with additional information or new arguments and what consequences the ongoing summary proceedings will have for the relationship between the parties involved.

For Jap A Joe, the decision means that she will remain as director for the time being. At the same time, the discussion about transparency, financial management and the relationship between governance and oversight within an important public supervisory authority remains current.