Minister Miquella Huur of Regional Development has proposed organising a land rights conference in 2027, around the commemoration of the Day of the Maroons. During the official commemoration at the Monument van 10 oktober 1760 on Saturday 10 October, she stressed that the collective rights of the communities must be legally protected.
Also during the gathering, President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons addressed the issue of land rights. According to the head of state, both land rights and the principle of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) have the government’s attention. This principle concerns the involvement and consent of communities in decisions affecting them.
Huur stated that Maroon Day, besides being a commemoration, is also an opportunity to reflect on the future of Maroon communities. She referred to the ancestors who fought for their freedom and built their own society, system of governance and cultural traditions. According to the minister, this heritage must be preserved, while further development must also become visible in the villages and neighbourhoods.
Call for concrete development
Leo Atomang, chairman of Stichting 10 Oktober 1760, called for attention to concrete results in the area of sustainable development in the interior. As an example, he mentioned the construction of roads from Paramaribo to Boven-Marowijne and Boven-Suriname. Better accessibility could, according to him, contribute to the development of these areas.
Minister Marinus Bee of Binnenlandse Zaken stressed that both the government and the communities must have a clear vision of the direction they wish to take with the development of the interior. Minister Raymond Landveld of Transport, Communicatie en Toerisme additionally pointed to the importance of humanity, equality and shared citizenship.
Preservation of history and heritage
President Geerlings-Simons stated that only a small part of the history of the Maroons has been recorded in books. According to her, that history goes back further than the period of slavery and deserves more attention. She stressed that freedom is the result of struggle and sacrifice.
DNA Chairman Ashwin Adhin referred to a tembé artwork which, according to him, is displayed in a museum in Los Angeles. He called this an example of the international recognition of the cultural heritage of the Maroons.
Several speakers called for greater unity among themselves during the commemoration. Geerlings-Simons stressed its importance for sustainable development. Bee stated that unity should primarily be reflected in actions, while Atomang identified cooperation as the basis for progress and a stronger position for Maroon communities.
