Noersalim: No separate agreement between LVV and Mennonites

Minister Mike Noersalim says that no separate agreement exists at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries with the Mennonites in Suriname. According to him, upon taking office he did find documents and decisions from the previous government relating to the arrival and activities of the group, but no complete file containing a direct agreement between LVV and the Mennonites. In doing so, the minister is seeking to provide clarity in a matter that has raised many questions in recent times.

The issue received renewed attention after the Communicatie Dienst Suriname published an interview with Noersalim on Tuesday, September 1. In it, the minister addressed, among other things, the relationship between LVV and Braganza Marketing Group. According to Noersalim, arrangements were made with this Surinamese company regarding the provision of agricultural land for the production of soybeans and corn. The company reportedly did not present itself to the ministry as a representative of the Mennonites.

According to the minister, that distinction is important because LVV can facilitate agricultural projects without itself being responsible for the formal allocation of land. The authority to allocate land lies with the Ministry of Grondbeleid en Bosbeheer (Land Policy and Forest Management). According to Noersalim, LVV can designate or make areas available for agricultural purposes, but the applicable procedures must be followed and other government agencies remain responsible for their own statutory duties.

Mennonites must meet conditions for agriculture

According to Noersalim, several conditions apply to large-scale agriculture. Project developers cannot simply clear areas or start activities. Environmental studies and approvals are required before work can begin. It must also be examined what consequences a project has for nature, water management and existing communities. The minister further stresses that activities in primary forest are not permitted under the conditions the government applies to such agricultural initiatives.

The position of foreign workers also plays an important role. According to the minister, persons brought to Suriname for agricultural projects must reside legally in the country and possess the proper documents. Noersalim says that foreign workers may be welcome when they contribute to the development of the sector, but that this can only take place within Surinamese legislation. According to him, no project or investor is granted an exception to the rules.

Several agencies involved in oversight

According to the minister, in addition to LVV and Grondbeleid en Bosbeheer, several agencies are involved in supervision and oversight. He mentions, among others, the Nationale Milieu Autoriteit (National Environmental Authority) and the Stichting Bosbeheer en Bostoezicht (Foundation for Forest Management and Forest Supervision). The authorities responsible for justice and residency also have a role. With this, Noersalim seeks to emphasise that decisions on large agricultural projects cannot be taken by one ministry alone and that various permits and inspections may be required before a project can be fully implemented.

The minister rejects the idea that there is a backdoor route through which companies or groups can obtain land or permission outside normal procedures. According to him, everyone must follow the same legal steps. This position is relevant because the presence of Mennonites and their possible involvement in agricultural projects has led to concerns about land allocation, deforestation, residency status and the position of Indigenous and tribal communities.

“According to Noersalim, there is no backdoor route. Everyone must comply with the same rules.”

Discussion goes beyond an agreement with LVV

The discussion therefore concerns not only the question of whether LVV itself concluded a contract with the Mennonites. The nature of the arrangements with Braganza, the locations of the agricultural projects, the size of the areas involved and compliance with environmental and residency regulations also remain matters of public attention. In earlier reporting by Key News on Braganza and the Mennonites, the company itself stated that its agricultural projects stem from arrangements with the government.

In contrast, the government emphasises that separate legal conditions apply to land allocation, clearing, residency and the environment. As a result, a business arrangement on agricultural production cannot automatically be regarded as permission to use land, remove forest or employ foreign workers without additional procedures. Noersalim’s explanation amounts to different decisions and permits having to be considered alongside one another in order to determine what is actually legally permitted.

Agriculture faces labour shortage

Noersalim also places the discussion about the Mennonites within the broader problems of Suriname’s agricultural sector. According to him, the sector faces a labour shortage and an ageing workforce. According to the minister, this makes investments and new production capacity important. Foreign knowledge, capital and labour can play a role in this, but according to him, they must be deployed in a manner that fits within national policy and legislation.

The minister also sees a need for a better geographical distribution of agricultural activities. When a large part of production is concentrated in one area, the sector can become more vulnerable to diseases, pests or other disruptions. By spreading agriculture across several suitable areas, the risk to food production can, according to him, be limited. The question of which areas are actually suitable and legally available remains of great importance.

Mennonites affect several policy areas

The Mennonite file therefore affects several policy areas at the same time. It concerns agricultural development, land policy, forest protection, labour migration, residency rights and the rights of communities living in or near possible project areas. Precisely because different ministries and agencies have authority, transparency regarding documents, decisions, permits and responsibilities is needed to prevent differing interpretations from continuing to exist alongside one another.

The government’s official explanation, according to Noersalim, removes one question: LVV has no separate agreement directly with the Mennonites. At the same time, the arrangements with Braganza and the implementation of agricultural projects remain relevant to the public debate. For citizens and affected communities, what will be especially important is which documents are ultimately legally valid, where projects may take place exactly and which conditions are enforced by the government.

More clarity on documents remains necessary

Noersalim’s explanation also means that a distinction must be made between an agreement on agricultural production and the permits needed to actually realise that production. A company may have arrangements concerning soybeans or corn, while procedures must additionally be followed for land, the environment, workers and other activities. It is precisely these different elements that have caused uncertainty and discussion in the Mennonite file.

The coming period will have to show how the government further assesses the arrangements with Braganza and how the agencies involved oversee compliance with the conditions. Disclosure of clear information on allocated areas, environmental studies, residency documents and permits may bring greater clarity to a file that remains socially sensitive and in which different parties offer their own interpretations of the arrangements made.