President Jennifer Simons wants to use the future resources of the Spaar- en Stabilisatie Fonds Suriname (SSFS) for three purposes: saving for the future, investing in the development of the country, and supporting housing construction and healthcare. In her view, the spending must be laid down by law, so that the government cannot independently decide where the money goes.
Head of state outlined her vision on Sunday, October 4, 2026, on the programme Welingelichte Kringen on Radio ABC. According to Simons, the law governing the fund must be amended again, taking into account the expected oil revenues and Suriname’s current needs.
The fund was established in 2017. According to the president, the law was amended in 2024 in connection with the Value Recovery Instrument (VRI). Now that the matter has been settled, in her view, a new amendment is needed.
In setting up the fund, consideration must be given, among other things, to the state of education, healthcare and infrastructure. Investments to further develop sectors such as tourism must also be included.
Legal rules for investments
Simons wants part of the resources to remain untouched for the future and for stabilisation. In addition, she sees room for an investment fund that supports the further development of Suriname.
“The government should not simply be able to decide for itself what all should be invested in,” the president stated. Which investments may be financed with the resources must, in her view, be laid down in the law. She explicitly regards education as an investment and not merely as a social expenditure.
According to Simons, a smaller part of the oil revenues should directly benefit society through housing construction and healthcare.
Access to affordable housing
With its housing policy, the government wants to prevent residents from being displaced in the housing market by the arrival of expats. Simons referred to the experiences of countries that had previously undergone similar developments.
According to her, the state must continue to provide access to land and make low-interest loans possible. Within the housing programme, the government has started preparing land for construction and installing utilities. The premise is that citizens will therefore in principle only have to pay for the house itself.
At the same time, Simons wants to encourage investors to build separate homes for expats.
Oil revenues as contribution to healthcare
According to the president, healthcare must also be prepared for the period in which Suriname receives more oil revenues. She warned that healthcare costs in wealthy countries sometimes rise faster than gross domestic product, making it more difficult for people with fewer financial resources to access care.
The government therefore wants to establish a healthcare system by law in 2027 that guarantees the entire population access to healthcare. According to Simons, everyone will contribute to it, while part of the funding must come from oil revenues.
