The public meeting of De Nationale Assemblée (Suriname’s parliament), at which the security situation in Suriname was to be discussed on Thursday, 12 November, was cancelled shortly before it was due to begin.
According to Adhin, the meeting was postponed at the government’s request. At that time, the government was reportedly unable to provide the requested information on the security situation. The parliamentary speaker invoked his powers under the Rules of Procedure.
“I am not going to organise a meeting if I do not have a government. I was also asked by the president. Given the situation, the speaker exercised his right to postpone the meeting on the basis of the Rules of Procedure,” Adhin stated.
Gajadien calls course of events unacceptable
VHP parliamentary group leader Asiskumar Gajadien responded critically to the decision. He pointed out that, two days earlier, broad agreement had been reached in parliament on the need to discuss the country’s security situation.
“Two days ago, it was broadly stated here in parliament that we would hold a meeting on the security issue. It can never be the case that such an issue arises and there is no consultation between the parliamentary groups,” Gajadien said.
According to the VHP parliamentary group leader, the government must provide clarity if it is unable to account for the security situation.
“If the government is unable to account for the security issue in this country, then let that government say so before society. I ask you to protect parliament,” Gajadien said.
Brunswijk: minister was prepared to answer questions
ABOP chairman and deputy speaker of parliament Ronnie Brunswijk also questioned the postponement. According to him, the Minister of Justice and Security was indeed prepared to answer parliament’s questions.
“You are a minister until you resign. In any case, society wants to know the state of the security situation. We also do not know why the meeting is being postponed,” Brunswijk said.
His response comes against the backdrop of political developments surrounding Minister Harish Monorath of Justice and Security, whose position within the government is under discussion on Thursday.
Brunswijk stressed that society has a right to clarity about the security situation. According to him, the political situation that has arisen is no reason to forgo parliamentary consideration of the security issue.
Misiekaba: government is present
Minister André Misiekaba of Health, Welfare and Labour said that the government was present and prepared to respond to parliament’s agenda.
“Let us hear what the agenda and instruction of parliament are, and we will respond accordingly,” Misiekaba stated.
At the same time, the minister stressed that the government does not want to be involved in what he considers internal matters of parliament.
The cancellation of the meeting raises questions about parliamentary oversight of security policy, precisely at a time when the country’s security situation is the subject of public and political discussion. It is not known when the postponed meeting will take place.
