Jermain Pinas takes the helm of SBB after legal battle surrounding Ravenberg

Jermain Pinas has officially been in charge of the Stichting voor Bosbeheer en Bostoezicht (SBB) since Thursday. The appointment of Jermain Pinas brings an end to a period in which the organisation had long operated with an acting director, while a legal and administrative conflict surrounded former general director Ruben Ravenberg. Pinas had already been assigned as acting director and now permanently assumes responsibility for the day-to-day management of the organisation.

The new director says he appreciates the confidence placed in him by the government and the foundation’s board. According to him, the emphasis is on cooperation with staff and concrete results. Jermain Pinas wants SBB to be positioned more strongly as an organisation that oversees the management and use of Suriname’s forests. He says he wants to commit himself together with employees “with all his might”.

That task is important because SBB has a central role in monitoring logging, timber transport, timber exports and sustainable forest management. According to information from SBB, the foundation is tasked with promoting sustainable strategic forest management and supervising forests designated for production. The organisation also works on forest monitoring, monitoring timber flows and strengthening the forestry sector.

Jermain Pinas takes charge after period of unrest

Pinas’s appointment follows a turbulent period at SBB. From 2025 onwards, predecessor Ruben Ravenberg increasingly found himself at odds with part of the board at the time. A major point of dispute concerned measures and investigations involving the Export department. Ravenberg stated that irregularities had emerged during inspections and that, as general director, he was obliged to intervene.

Part of the board, however, believed that Ravenberg was acting beyond his authority. Tensions escalated to the point where board members went to court and sought to force his departure. Key News previously reported on the internal tensions at SBB, in which the conflict over the export department and the director’s powers was central.

Ravenberg previously won court case against board members

The governance dispute also took on a legal dimension in early 2026. In January, the Cantonal Court dismissed claims brought by four former board members against Ravenberg. Among other things, they wanted the director’s decisions to be reversed and for him to be removed from his position. According to reporting on the ruling, Ravenberg prevailed in those proceedings. However, that did not mean the conflict within SBB had been resolved.

Ravenberg had been general director since early 2024, succeeding Stanley Betterson. When he took office, Key News reported that the staff union initially viewed his appointment positively. Relations with parts of the board later deteriorated, and disputes arose over the internal management of SBB.

The change of directors follows months of legal battles and administrative uncertainty within SBB.

Suspension and discussion over Ravenberg’s contract

In March 2026, Ravenberg was informed that his position was under discussion and he was suspended. This again sparked debate over the legal validity of decisions concerning his appointment. According to Starnieuws, two employment agreements were found in his personnel file. An agreement from December 2023 concerned a five-year contract, while a later document from June 2025 reportedly provided for an appointment for an indefinite period and a higher salary.

Minister Stanley Soeropawiro of Grondbeleid en Bosbeheer (Land Policy and Forest Management) subsequently requested permission from the Ontslagcommissie (Dismissal Committee) in May to dismiss Ravenberg. The reasons cited included a seriously disrupted employment relationship and questions surrounding his legal status. Ravenberg opposed the intended termination and argued that any departure had to take place in accordance with the applicable law and regulations. He also disputed several allegations made against him.

Dismissal request was later withdrawn

Shortly afterwards, the situation changed again. The dismissal request against Ravenberg was withdrawn by Minister Soeropawiro on 21 May 2026. Ravenberg then stated that he was willing to relinquish the director’s chair, but that the termination of his position had to be handled properly. At that point, an acting director had already been appointed within SBB to ensure the day-to-day management and continuity of the organisation.

What was subsequently agreed between Ravenberg, the ministry and SBB has not been fully set out in publicly accessible reporting. No widely published final arrangement has been found describing the legal settlement of his employment step by step. Recent reporting does, however, now refer to Ravenberg as former general director. With the official appointment of Jermain Pinas, it is furthermore clear that the leadership of SBB has been definitively transferred.

New director must strengthen confidence and oversight

For SBB, the change means that an administratively complicated period is formally coming to an end. At the same time, the issues that caused tensions in recent years remain relevant. The monitoring of timber flows, the position of the export department, transparency within the organisation and the relationship between management and the board directly affect the credibility of oversight in Suriname’s forestry sector.

Jermain Pinas therefore has more on his plate than daily management. He is also expected to bring calm, clearly establish responsibilities and ensure that inspections are carried out without internal conflicts. This is important for companies that operate according to the rules and for the government, which may lose revenue through illegal timber flows.

Jermain Pinas aims for visible results

The new general director has indicated that he wants to work with staff to strengthen and further develop SBB. His ambition is for the foundation to attain the position he believes it deserves. In doing so, Jermain Pinas sets the bar at concrete results, better implementation and an organisation that is more clearly visible in forest management oversight.

This is important for Suriname because forests have great economic as well as ecological value. Effective oversight of concessions, timber production and exports is needed to combat illegal practices, protect state revenues and promote sustainable use of forest areas. International cooperation on climate, forest monitoring and responsible timber use also requires a stable and professionally functioning supervisory body.

New phase for SBB under Jermain Pinas

With the permanent appointment of Jermain Pinas, attention therefore shifts from the struggle over the director’s chair to SBB’s performance under the new leadership. The coming period will have to show how quickly the new director can combine internal calm with strict oversight, transparency and visible results for Suriname’s forestry sector.