VHP member of De Nationale Assemblée (Suriname’s parliament) Ameerani Jarbandhan wants to know from the government how much money is injected into the Surinaamse Luchtvaartmaatschappij (SLM) each month. She also asks for substantiation of the decision to keep the company operational, while passengers, according to her, are repeatedly confronted with delays, cancellations and technical problems.
Jarbandhan said on the programme ABC Actueel that passengers were stranded again recently. According to her, this is not an isolated incident. She pointed out that several problems have occurred in recent months and years with flights operated by the national airline.
The member of parliament referred, among other things, to lengthy delays on the Mid-Atlantic route, stranded travellers in the Netherlands and Miami, and flights cancelled at the last minute due to technical defects.
In some cases, passengers reportedly had to wait for days without adequate accommodation or compensation. In her view, the persistent problems have undermined citizens’ confidence in the SLM.
No clear recovery plan visible
Jarbandhan states that the incidents continue to pile up, while the government makes substantial amounts available every month to keep the airline operational. According to her, it is insufficiently clear to society which recovery plan is being implemented with this financial support.
She therefore wants an overview of the amounts going to the SLM each month and asks why part of these funds is not spent on other sectors. In this regard, she pointed to teachers, nurses, police officers and military personnel, who, according to her, are also waiting for an improvement in their income.
According to the member of parliament, many workers within these professional groups earn between SRD 17,000 and SRD 19,000 per month.
Questions about president’s remuneration and housing provisions
Jarbandhan also raised the remuneration of President Jennifer Simons. According to her, the head of state receives SRD 149,000 per month excluding allowances, and this remuneration is linked to that of a general director.
In addition, she believes there is insufficient transparency regarding the costs of the president’s housing provisions. The member of parliament says she has submitted formal questions on this matter to the head of state.
“Who in Suriname really has to tighten their belt?”, Jarbandhan asked. She contrasted the financial position of citizens and essential professional groups with government spending on the SLM and provisions for the head of state.
Accountability to parliament requested
Jarbandhan wants the government to clarify on what grounds it decided to keep the SLM operational. She also asks for an evaluation of the financial and social consequences of the recurring problems at the airline.
She further demands an explanation of the government’s priorities in the allocation of public funds, especially in relation to possible salary increases for essential professional groups.
The member of parliament emphasises that the government must provide complete and accurate information to parliament and society.
