Within the Algemene Bevrijdings- en Ontwikkelingspartij (ABOP), there is dissatisfaction over developments surrounding various dossiers in which the party is involved. This was confirmed by Minister of Justice and Security Harish Monorath in an interview with ABC Suriname. According to him, it is up to the party’s political leadership to determine how the situation will be handled going forward.
Monorath was asked during an interview about developments at the Telecommunicatie Autoriteit Suriname (TAS) about the political relations within the coalition and the dissatisfaction said to exist within ABOP.
The minister referred to various institutions and issues which, according to him, are continually being called into question. “They are dealing with TAS. They are dealing with EBS. They are dealing with Canawaima,” Monorath said.
According to the minister, these are always matters connected to ABOP and the responsibilities the party held during the previous term of government.
Minister does not want to avoid investigations
Monorath says he has no objection to investigations into developments at government institutions. However, he believes investigations should not focus exclusively on certain dossiers.
“We must investigate everything. And now the minister should truly have everything investigated as well,” he stated.
The minister made these remarks in response to questions about the boardroom dispute at TAS, where he was chairman of the supervisory board during the previous term of government.
He says that as minister, he does not wish to continually interfere in political discussions about his former administrative responsibilities.
Political leadership to decide
When asked directly about dissatisfaction within ABOP over the situation in the coalition, Monorath confirmed that it exists.
“We have that dissatisfaction, but the political leader will further determine how the structure will take shape,” he stated.
The minister did not elaborate on any measures the party leadership might take.
Nor did he make any concrete statements during the interview about a possible termination of cooperation within the coalition.
Monorath limited himself to noting that dissatisfaction exists within ABOP and that further political decision-making is left to the party’s leadership.
