Rachmael Beck, director of Solaris Prime Energy, says he is suffering financial losses as a result of the recent governance conflict at the Telecommunicatie Autoriteit Suriname (TAS, Telecommunications Authority of Suriname). According to the entrepreneur, his company incurs additional storage costs every day because the necessary approvals for the import of communication equipment have not been issued. The delay also affects deliveries to customers in Guyana.
Solaris Prime Energy imports, among other things, communication equipment used for maritime applications and by police and other security services. According to Beck, permission from TAS is required to bring in this equipment, including so-called type approvals and import approvals.
Beck says he had submitted an application even before the recent governance problems at TAS arose. He says he has still not received the required approval.
A third shipment of communication equipment has now arrived, while the required documents are lacking. As a result, the entrepreneur cannot clear his goods.
Storage costs increase daily
According to Beck, the delay entails considerable additional costs. For every day his equipment remains in storage, he says he has to pay 30 dollars.
“Who will pay the additional storage costs for us? And from whom can we recover those additional costs?” Beck asks. The director explains that his company made price agreements with customers in advance. The additional costs therefore cannot simply be passed on.
Beck considers it unacceptable that entrepreneurs are financially affected by internal governance problems at an agency on which they depend for permits and approvals.
Customers in Guyana also affected
According to Beck, the problems not only affect his business operations in Suriname. Solaris Prime Energy also uses Suriname as an import and transit location for equipment ultimately delivered to customers in Guyana.
“My biggest market is Guyana,” says the entrepreneur.
Due to the absence of approvals, deliveries cannot take place as planned. According to Beck, this creates problems with customers who expect their ordered equipment on time.
Resumption of TAS services offers no guarantee
The Raad van Commissarissen (Supervisory Board) of TAS previously announced that regular public services would resume on Thursday, October 29, 2026.
For Beck, however, the resumption does not automatically mean that his applications will be processed immediately.
He wonders who can guarantee him that the necessary import approvals will be issued within a few days. Every further delay means additional storage costs, according to him.
Beck critical of business climate
The director of Solaris Prime Energy also criticises the way internal problems at government agencies affect the business sector.
According to him, insufficient consideration is given to the financial obligations of entrepreneurs who depend on timely services.
Beck states that such situations harm Suriname’s business and investment climate.
The entrepreneur says he has since asked TAS who is responsible for the additional costs arising from the delay. According to his statement, this has not yet led to a concrete solution.
Court confirms ruling in TAS conflict
The governance conflict at TAS led to several lawsuits in recent times between former director Wendy Jap-A-Joe, the State and the Raad van Commissarissen.
On Friday, October 30, 2026, the Hof van Justitie (Court of Justice) upheld the earlier ruling by the district court judge. It was established that Jap-A-Joe’s statutory appointment term as director has expired and that the Raad van Commissarissen is temporarily managing the administration.
Although this has created legal clarity regarding the leadership of the telecommunications authority, the question remains for Beck as to when his import applications will be processed and who will bear the financial consequences of the delay.
