The Supervisory Board (RvC) of the Telecommunication Authority Suriname (TAS) has announced that, as of Tuesday, 20 October 2026, Wendy Jap A Joe is no longer authorised to act as director on behalf of the organisation. According to the board, her statutory five-year term of appointment expired on Monday, 19 October. This gives the months-long governance conflict within the telecommunications regulator a new turn.
In a general notice dated 20 October 2026, the RvC states that from that date Jap A Joe may no longer represent TAS, sign documents on behalf of the organisation, or authorise payments and assignments. Exercising other director’s powers is also no longer permitted, according to the board.
The RvC bases this position on the Telecommunications Facilities Act. Jap A Joe was appointed director of TAS by presidential resolution of 20 October 2021. Article 2, paragraph 2 of this act stipulates that the appointment of a director is valid for five years.
According to the board, that term expired on 19 October 2026 and the appointment therefore ended by operation of law as of 20 October.
RvC warns against actions on behalf of TAS
In its notice, the board goes beyond merely establishing the end of the appointment term. It also explicitly warns of the consequences of any decisions and actions that Jap A Joe might undertake on behalf of TAS after 19 October.
According to the RvC, such actions have not been authorised by the competent management. According to the notice, the organisation accepts no responsibility for them unless those actions are subsequently expressly confirmed in writing by the competent management.
The board is therefore addressing not only the former director, but also parties entering into business or administrative agreements with TAS.
Board invokes legal provision for temporary management
The RvC further states that the interim management of TAS rests with the board as of 20 October. In doing so, the board refers to Article 4, paragraph 2 of the Telecommunications Facilities Act.
That legal provision regulates the acting management when the director is unable to perform his or her duties. The law stipulates that management initially rests with a deputy director designated by the RvC. If deputy directors are also absent or unable to act, the board may temporarily assume management.
The general notice does not indicate why, in this case, the RvC was directly chosen to assume management.
Governance conflict enters new phase
The development follows months of tensions between Jap A Joe and the Supervisory Board, led by president-commissioner Emanuel Scheek.
In September, Key News reported that the RvC had asked President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons to intervene in the conflict. Jap A Joe, in turn, had filed a lawsuit against six members of the board.
During a press conference on 17 September, Scheek stressed that, in his view, the president had an important role to play in resolving the situation that had arisen.
Earlier, Minister Raymond Landveld of Transport, Communication and Tourism had indicated that the suspension or dismissal of Jap A Joe was not under consideration at that time. According to the minister, both the director and the commissioners had to continue their work.
With the expiration of the appointment term, the RvC is now invoking a different legal basis. The board states that there is no longer a valid appointment as director and attaches immediate consequences to this for administrative powers.
President’s decision remains point of attention
At the same time, the new development raises questions about the further governance arrangements at TAS.
Under Article 2, paragraph 2 of the Telecommunications Facilities Act, the director is appointed, suspended and dismissed by the president, on the nomination of the responsible minister and after approval by the Raad van Ministers (Council of Ministers).
The RvC’s notice contains no information on any possible reappointment of Jap A Joe or the appointment of a successor.
Nor is it clear whether President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons has since taken a separate decision on the future leadership of the telecommunications authority.
In any case, the RvC takes the position that Jap A Joe no longer has director’s powers as of 20 October.
A response from Jap A Joe to this new notice is not yet available. It is also not yet clear whether she will challenge the RvC’s position.
