Minister of Justice and Security Harish Monorath has responded to the allegations surrounding the employment contract of former director Wendy Jap-A-Joe of the Telecommunicatie Autoriteit Suriname (TAS). The minister, who was chairman of TAS during the previous administration, denies that he fabricated or subsequently drew up an agreement.
According to him, the contract was concluded in 2021 in accordance with the usual procedures, and the government and president at the time were aware of the agreements made.
Monorath says he is surprised by the allegations that have emerged in connection with the governance dispute at TAS. He stresses that he personally signed the agreement at the time, after the appointment and employment conditions had been addressed.
“What strikes me is that people are now saying that I fabricated a contract,” the minister told journalists.
Appointment followed usual procedure
According to Monorath, the same procedure was followed in Jap-A-Joe’s appointment as for previous TAS directors. The nomination was handled through the responsible minister in the Raad van Ministers (Council of Ministers), followed by a presidential resolution.
The minister states that the employment conditions were discussed in advance with the government and president at the time. He then signed the employment agreement as chairman.
According to Monorath, the contract provided for a monthly salary of USD 4,000. He states that comparable salaries were also applied at other parastatal institutions.
Monorath stresses that he had no intention whatsoever of personally favouring Jap-A-Joe.
“In no way did I try to favour her,” the minister said.
Monorath disputes allegation of backdating
During the interview, Monorath was also confronted with the allegation that the employment agreement may have been drawn up afterwards and given an earlier date.
The minister dismisses that allegation. He argues that Jap-A-Joe was paid in accordance with the agreements made throughout her appointment period.
“What are you going to falsify if the person received the amount for five years?” he asked.
According to Monorath, the agreement was moreover not a secret document. He says the conditions were openly discussed at the time and that the shareholder at the time was also aware of them.
Indefinite-term contract was intended to prevent administrative vacuum
An important part of the dispute is the provision in the employment agreement referring to employment for an indefinite period.
Monorath explains that this provision was included to prevent TAS from being left without management when a statutory appointment term expired without a successor being appointed in time.
According to him, situations had arisen with previous directors in which the government had not arranged succession administratively in time.
According to the minister, the indefinite-term provision was intended to safeguard continuity of operations. He acknowledges that the court has since ruled differently on Jap-A-Joe’s administrative position.
Court has not yet given final ruling on contract
The district court ruled on Monday, 26 October 2026, that Jap-A-Joe’s statutory appointment term has expired. She may no longer act on behalf of TAS and must transfer her management duties and company assets to the Raad van Commissarissen (RvC).
The employment agreement of 1 November 2021 has been provisionally suspended by the court. The nullity or legal validity of the contract may have to be decided in proceedings on the merits.
The preliminary injunction ruling therefore does not yet contain a final decision on the legal validity of the employment agreement.
Monorath says he has heard that those involved are considering an appeal. He wants to wait and see what further decisions the judiciary will make.
Annual accounts and TAS’s financial position
During the interview, the minister also addressed TAS’s financial management during his chairmanship.
According to him, when he took office in 2020, the annual accounts for 2018, 2019 and 2020 had not yet been completed. He states that under his chairmanship, the annual accounts for the period from 2018 through 2023 were finalised.
For the 2024 financial year, he says he still instructed in 2025 that the annual accounts be prepared. Monorath criticises the current RvC over what he says is still outstanding financial accountability for later years.
The minister further states that substantial financial surpluses were built up during his chairmanship. According to him, TAS still has several million US dollars in surplus funds that the State should receive.
He also points to salary increases for staff and support that TAS provided during the coronavirus period and the flooding in the interior.
Minister does not want to become involved in political dispute
Monorath says that, as minister, he wants to remain restrained in the public discussion about his former position at TAS.
He is bothered by what he says is the way allegations are made without the full background being discussed.
The minister says he does not want to continually respond to statements by the current RvC and politicians about the governance issue.
According to him, any further investigation should clarify what occurred. For now, he maintains his position that the employment agreement was concluded at the time with the government’s knowledge and that he had no reason to favour Jap-A-Joe.
