Rusland at NPS 80th anniversary: ‘The Surinamese are struggling; we must provide solutions’

During the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Nationale Partij Suriname (NPS), he acknowledged that many citizens are struggling and are impatient. At the same time, he warned that the country’s future revenues must not end up with a small group. “We are not working only for NPS members. We are working for all Surinamese.”

Rusland used a significant part of his speech to look ahead to the remainder of the government’s term. According to him, President Jennifer Simons and he as vice president, together with the rest of the government, must address existing backlogs and work towards structural change.

“The Surinamese people are struggling,” Rusland said. He said he understood citizens who want to see change quickly. According to the vice president, however, major backlogs cannot be cleared overnight. “We are going for it. We are going to ensure that in the coming period we do all the things we need to do.”

Education must improve every year

One of the sectors Rusland explicitly mentioned is education. According to him, young people must receive education that enables them to keep up with future economic and international developments.

In doing so, he tempered expectations surrounding the start of the new school year. According to Rusland, not everything will immediately run smoothly. “We do not expect everything to go perfectly this October either. There will be problems. But we must ensure that we see clear improvements every year.”

According to Rusland, good education must ultimately enable people to find work through which they can support themselves, their families and their children.

‘Hundreds of millions needed for healthcare’

Major backlogs must also be addressed within healthcare, according to the vice president. He stated that issues concerning backlogs in the sector are discussed in the Raad van Ministers (Council of Ministers) almost weekly.

According to Rusland, investments of hundreds of millions are needed for this. He did not clarify which currency, specific projects or timeframe this concerns. “We are not going to look at who did what,” Rusland said of the problems facing the government. “But we are going to provide solutions for those problems that exist.”

Security remains a challenge

Rusland also reflected on the security situation. He referred to the criticism the Minister of Justice and Police receives in De Nationale Assemblée (Suriname’s parliament). “I feel sorry for that poor Minister of Justice and Security. At every DNA meeting, he is attacked. But I can understand it. Suriname wants security.”

According to Rusland, the government cannot simply ask society to remain patient in this area. Work must be done continuously to improve the situation.

Warning about wealth from 2028

A significant part of Rusland’s message concerned Suriname’s future economic development. He pointed to revenues that, according to him, the country will receive from 2028.

The vice president said the central question must be how those revenues will ultimately reach all citizens. “Our concern at this moment is that the revenues the country will receive in the coming period from 2028 actually reach every Surinamese.”

Rusland warned of a situation in which only a few benefit from the country’s wealth, while a large part of society becomes increasingly impoverished. According to him, models must therefore be developed involving the government, De Nationale Assemblée, civil society organisations and other groups.

“We must ensure that every citizen in this country can benefit from the wealth that will now come to Suriname.”

Rusland critical of functioning of civil service apparatus

Rusland also spoke about the government apparatus. He stated that the government has approximately 50,000 staff members and suggested that only some of them are actually sufficiently productive.

At the same time, he defended civil servants who, according to him, do work hard and keep the government apparatus running. “I have seen civil servants who work day and night and carry the system. And we must appreciate those people.”

For civil servants who, in his view, perform insufficiently, the situation must change, according to Rusland. He believes every citizen should ask themselves what contribution he or she can make to the development of the country.

Less Facebook, more contributions

The NPS chairman also called on his supporters to pay less attention to unconfirmed information on social media.

He said people should focus more on what they themselves can contribute to Suriname’s development. Dissatisfied NPS members also received a message. Rusland acknowledged that there are people within the party who had expected to see something in return sooner from participation in the government.

He asked them to be patient. “We are not working only for NPS members. We are working for all Surinamese.” According to Rusland, policy must be aimed at building a foundation from which the whole of society will ultimately benefit.

Making Suriname stronger internationally

The vice president also believes that Suriname must orient itself more strongly internationally. He pointed to countries in the Caribbean whose representatives, according to him, are better equipped to participate in international forums.

According to Rusland, Surinamese must gain more experience within international organisations and position themselves more strongly internationally.

According to him, the coming years must therefore not only be used to resolve acute problems, but also to establish structures and policies through which Suriname can further develop.

Call for unity

Rusland concluded with a call on NPS members to discuss problems internally rather than attack each other through social media.

“Let us communicate. Let us talk about the problems. And then you will also receive an explanation.” He also advocated cooperation between political parties, population groups and other parts of society.

“Let us enter a new phase in which we can preserve that unity within that community and work together towards a better future.”

With this, Rusland indicated that he does not want to see the NPS’s 80th anniversary only as a moment to look back. According to him, the party, which currently bears governing responsibility, must above all show what contribution it can make to Suriname’s development in the coming years.