This is the height of absurdity. It is utterly ridiculous that a quarter of the police force has to protect the heads of government, while crime is assuming alarming proportions and increasingly moving into the open. Bloody misery! Why can the dignitaries, with their exorbitant salaries and generous benefits, not provide for their own security?
Then a quarter of the police force would not have to play guard. Is that even their task in the general interest? Moreover, a clear conscience need not be afraid, right? The striking thing about this absurdity is that meetings are being held at all levels on how to optimise security without looking at their own narrow interest: laying claim to a quarter of the national police force. So, in addition to the exorbitant salaries and generous benefits, they are also subsidised tax-free, at least as far as their security is concerned. Banana republic, boi (boy). Really!
Development Opportunities Nil
Students and young people are fully aware that without drastic, systemic changes there can be no opportunities for them, which is tremendously demotivating and therefore encourages them to seek alternatives. After all, it is tempting to seek a political job, because loyalty is rewarded sooner than competence. Because only with brainless yes-men can you steal with impunity. Or rather: spend billions of US dollars without transparency and accountability.
Continuously travelling at the state’s expense and posting egotistical photos with other dignitaries as if that makes you more important. Truly tribal. And no one demands accountability. Of course not, because they are all happily feeding at the trough. Critical competence is avoided and punished. Brain drain in every field therefore comes as no surprise. What remains and must provide leadership is therefore not encouraging. The sad thing is also that no ethical code imposes restrictions on who may run the country, so decadence has been incorporated.
Follow the Money
By the way, no matter how good the leaders are, development opportunities will remain nil without systemic changes. Even if AI were introduced and we had the best cadre available, opportunities in Suriname would still remain nil. The fatal heavy claim now being made on future oil and gas revenues does not improve the situation. Suspicions within the legislative and executive branches that a conspiracy exists between the judiciary and the former coalition leaders destroy every glimmer of hope.
Systemically, nothing substantial has changed since 1975. Nowadays, everything takes place openly—corruption instead of, previously, under the table or in the open drawer, now on top of the table. Decadence rages on through all ranks like a cancerous growth. The evidence is growing inequality, with all its consequences. If you participate, the system forces a servile attitude. If you want to know the state of affairs: Follow the Money.
Gap in the Market
There is a major gap in the political market, since the group of young people between 15 and 45 makes up half of our population and is being ignored by the current sitting political parties. They instead choose leaders who are almost at death’s door, statistically speaking. Fortunately, the Progressief-Verheffende Partij aims to help young people into office in the next elections: First the People, then the Rest.
