The permit for the landfill site at Charlesburg was not renewed, but according to Minister Stephen Tsang of Openbare Werken en Ruimtelijke Ordening (OWRO, Public Works and Spatial Planning), dumping activities nevertheless continued. On Friday, November 6, 2026, another major fire broke out at the site, with fires burning in three different locations. The minister suspects arson and announces legal action against those responsible.
During a live broadcast by Key News from the landfill site, Tsang reacted with visible concern to the situation. According to him, it is unacceptable that another fire has broken out at a location where serious smoke nuisance had already occurred previously.
“And the permit was not renewed. And the people simply continued dumping. That will have consequences,” the minister stated.
The minister confirmed that fires are burning in three different locations. He does not rule out that the fire was deliberately started. “We suspect that this is a case of arson,” Tsang said. Whether a criminal offence has actually been committed still has to be established.
Smoke moving towards AZP, NCCR called in
The fire is causing major concern because of the location of the landfill site near residential areas. According to the minister, the smoke is also moving towards the Academisch Ziekenhuis Paramaribo (AZP, Academic Hospital Paramaribo).
Tsang has therefore called in the Nationaal Coördinatiecentrum voor Rampenbeheersing (NCCR, National Coordination Centre for Disaster Management). If necessary, the organisation must take measures to evacuate residents from the affected area.
“We are particularly concerned. I have already called in NCCR as well,” the minister said. It has not yet been confirmed whether residents have already been evacuated. It is also not yet known whether air-quality measurements are being carried out.
Heavy equipment deployed to fight fire
The Ministry of OWRO has sent several machines to Charlesburg to support firefighting efforts. Excavators are being deployed to make the fire sites accessible. Work is also under way on a corridor to prevent the further spread of the fire.
According to Tsang, a bulldozer has also been requested to spread sand and stones over the burning waste.
The deployment of the heavy equipment has consequences for other work by the ministry. Machines intended for ongoing projects have been transferred to Charlesburg.
As a result, according to Tsang, other projects may be delayed. He stressed that in emergencies, the ministry is forced to deploy available resources, even when this comes at the expense of planned work.
Owner may be held liable
Tsang wants those responsible for continuing the dumping activities to be dealt with legally. According to him, it must be examined which measures are possible and to what extent the costs incurred can be recovered.
The minister held consultations on site on this matter with District Commissioner Marlon Budike and the management of the directorate Openbaar Groen en Afvalbeheer.
The ministry’s legal department will have to advise on what steps can be taken against those involved.
The minister acknowledges that sufficient legal expertise and staff are needed for this. He also advocates stricter requirements for landfill sites.
Charlesburg was also hit by a major fire last year
The new fire raises questions about supervision of the landfill site and compliance with previous measures.
On October 22, 2025, a major fire also broke out at the old landfill site along the Nieuwe Charlesburgweg. Key News reported at the time that District Commissioner Budike had an investigation carried out into the owner, manager and permit for the site.
The fire caused prolonged smoke nuisance. Only after more than five days was the fire largely under control. Government services also had to deploy heavy equipment at that time.
In March 2026, the closure of landfill sites on the Smeltzweg and Nieuwe Charlesburgweg was also reported. Whether the site now on fire fell under that measure still has to be determined.
Questions about enforcement and protection of local residents
Tsang’s statement that the permit was not renewed raises a new question: why, according to the minister, were the dumping activities still able to continue?
It is also still unclear who was supposed to supervise compliance with the permit conditions and what measures had previously been taken to prevent further waste dumping.
For the residents of Charlesburg, the safety of their living environment is now the main concern. The repeated fires and smoke development underline the need for clarity about the future use of the site.
The minister has promised that the matter will be followed up legally. When concrete measures will be taken and whether the landfill site will be permanently closed and remediated is not yet known.
