Minister Miquella Huur of Regionale Ontwikkeling (RO) discussed the construction of a new headquarters for the ministry with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). During the meeting, she also presented other policy priorities for which possible support is being sought.
According to Huur, new accommodation is urgently needed, as the former headquarters on the Waterkant near the Roseveltkade was lost to strong wind gusts in 2024. Since then, staff have been working from various locations.
More than two hundred staff members are currently housed in the building of the directoraat Decentralisatie en Districtsontwikkeling at Crommelinstraat. This location was originally not designed for so many employees.
The ministry therefore wants to build a modern and sustainable main building at Zwartehovenbrugstraat. The new headquarters must provide sufficient workspace and contribute to more efficient implementation of RO’s duties.
The meeting also addressed accommodation for district commissioners in Sipaliwini. Several district commissioners are currently working from Paramaribo. The ministry wants them to be able to operate again from their own administrative areas.
For this, the commissioners’ offices in Sipaliwini must be improved. According to the ministry, adequate facilities are needed to bring governance and services closer to local communities.
Another priority is the expansion and modernisation of Stichting Nyun Combe. The foundation accommodates, among others, Indigenous and Maroon families from the interior who come to Paramaribo for, for example, mourning rituals.
According to Huur, the current location at Kleine Saramaccastraat has insufficient space. The ministry is therefore considering a new location with multiple accommodation units, so that several families can be accommodated at the same time.
IDB representative in Suriname Adriana La Valley explained that project proposals for possible support must first be submitted through the ministry of Financiën en Planning. A representative of that ministry attended the meeting to guide further coordination.
No commitment has yet been made regarding financing by the IDB. According to RO, the meeting of August 31 marked a first step in further developing the proposals and exploring possible cooperation.
