Employees of the Telecommunicatie Autoriteit Suriname (TAS, Suriname’s telecommunications authority) have urgently asked Minister Raymond Landveld of Transport, Communicatie en Toerisme (TCT, the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Tourism) to intervene in the administrative crisis within the organisation. In a letter dated Tuesday, October 20, 2026, they express serious concerns about the conduct of the Raad van Commissarissen (RvC, Supervisory Board).
In the letter, entitled Serious concerns about the conduct of the Raad van Commissarissen and the consequences for TAS operations, the employees write that the administrative conflict has now reached a point at which the continuity of the telecommunications authority is under pressure.
They consider it unacceptable that differences of opinion between the supervisors and management are having consequences for employees and the performance of the organisation’s statutory duties.
Criticism over lack of financial audits
A notable part of the letter concerns financial accountability within TAS. The employees state that the RvC has halted the legally required annual financial statement audits for the 2024 and 2025 financial years.
In addition, the 2026 budget reportedly has still not been approved without identifiable reasons. According to the letter writers, this is causing obstacles in carrying out daily work.
The employees emphasise that the RvC has a supervisory responsibility, while day-to-day management and operations belong to the directorate. Any disputes over governance should, according to them, be resolved through the designated administrative and legal procedures.
The allegations concerning the financial audits and the budget come from the signatories of the letter. The document does not indicate why the RvC would have halted the audits or not yet approved the budget.
Employees speak of intimidation
The employees also refer to the events of Monday, October 19, when members of the RvC went to the TAS building and a confrontation arose.
According to the letter, the situation caused such unrest that police came to the scene at the request of the president-commissioner. The events are said to have seriously disrupted calm within the organisation and caused staff members to feel insecure, intimidated and unsafe.
The letter writers state that employees present experienced certain remarks by RvC members as threatening. Among other things, it was reportedly said:
“If the director does not come downstairs within ten minutes, we will break open the door and go upstairs.”
The remark “Tomorrow we will come back” was also reportedly made.
The employees condemn this conduct. According to them, supervisors may be expected to act professionally, carefully and with integrity, with respect for administrative relations and the interests of the organisation.
Staff express confidence in Jap-A-Joe
In the same letter, the signatories explicitly express their support for director Wendy Jap-A-Joe, who is currently involved in a conflict with the RvC over her position.
According to the employees, Jap-A-Joe has in recent years committed herself in a professional and responsible manner to a well-functioning organisation. They praise her involvement with staff and the attention she reportedly gives to the interests and well-being of employees.
The letter writers state that her accessibility and willingness to listen to employees have contributed to a working environment in which staff members feel heard and appreciated.
They fear that the current developments will not only disrupt calm within TAS, but also damage the working relationships built up and mutual trust.
RvC declared director’s appointment ended
The letter comes at a time when the conflict over the leadership of TAS has further escalated.
The RvC announced on Tuesday in an official announcement that Jap-A-Joe’s five-year term of appointment expired on October 19, according to the board. The board takes the position that her appointment therefore ended by operation of law and that provisional administration has rested with the RvC since October 20.
Minister Landveld has also indicated that the term of appointment has expired and that the transfer of administrative responsibilities must take place immediately.
Jap-A-Joe has previously taken the position that a formal decision by the head of state is required to end her position. The differing positions regarding her legal status form an important part of the administrative conflict.
Call on minister to intervene
In their letter, the TAS employees emphasise that they do not question the RvC’s right to exercise supervision. According to them, their objections concern the manner in which that supervision is currently being carried out and its consequences for the organisation.
They request that Minister Landveld take measures to restore calm, safety and stability within TAS. They also ask for attention to administrative relations, the responsibilities of the directorate and the protection of employees against intimidation and disruption of their work.
The signatories believe that personal and administrative differences of opinion must not come at the expense of the performance of TAS’s statutory duties.
With their letter, they seek to ensure that operations can continue uninterrupted and that employees can perform their work in a safe and respectful environment.
It is not yet clear what measures the minister will take in response to this letter. Nor do the submitted documents indicate how many employees signed the letter.
The RvC’s response to the specific accusations regarding the annual financial statement audits, the budget and the alleged intimidation is not included in the letter.
