The Vereniging van Economisten in Suriname (VES) has criticised the way the Simons administration deploys presidential commissions. According to the association, this hollows out ministries and leaves policy implementation lagging behind. The VES is also concerned about the absence of a clear policy direction for the agricultural sector and advocates for a specialised anti-corruption unit.
President Jennifer Simons stated during her first press conference on July 16, 2025, that she wanted to move away from the presidential commissions established under her predecessor. She said at the time that such commissions do not belong under the Cabinet of the President, as it is not an executive body. According to her, that responsibility lies with the ministries.
More than a year after the government took office, however, the VES observes a different development. According to the association, presidential bodies are being established at a rapid pace under different names, but in practice have powers similar to those of earlier commissions.
Concerns about the agricultural sector
Simons has indicated on several occasions that agriculture and tourism should receive additional attention and play a leading role in Suriname’s development. Although the VES considers this choice understandable, it questions the establishment of presidential commissions for these sectors.
According to the association, there is a risk that ministries will consequently be hollowed out and take less responsibility for implementing their own policies.
The VES cites the Ministry of Landbouw, Veeteelt en Visserij (LVV) as an example. According to the association, thirteen months after the government took office, the ministry still does not have a policy memorandum. As a result, it would be insufficiently clear to stakeholders and society which direction agricultural policy is taking.
The VES also states that the approach to cassava disease has not yet produced any visible results. In addition, there would be no clear plan to mitigate the consequences of the predicted extreme heat and drought for agriculture.
As a result, local food production could come under further pressure, according to the association. The Presidentiële Commissie Agrarische Sector has so far provided insufficient clarity on concrete measures, according to the VES.
Questions about alleged irregularities at LVV
The VES also draws attention to various alleged irregularities at the LVV ministry that previously came to public attention. According to the association, insufficient is known about any investigations into whistleblower reports.
It stresses that such allegations must be investigated carefully and within an acceptable timeframe. If those involved are found to be innocent, they must be exonerated, according to the VES. When corruption is established, those responsible must be prosecuted and punished.
The association also points to the retrieval of official vehicles shortly after the current LVV leadership took office. The measure was defended at the time with the explanation that vehicles had been assigned to ‘friends and family’ under the previous leadership.
The VES wants to know whether such preferential treatment has now been fully ended. It asks the ministry’s leadership to provide transparency on this matter.
Call for a special anti-corruption unit
To combat corruption more effectively, the VES advocates for a specialised unit within the investigative apparatus. This unit should focus specifically on investigating possible corrupt practices at ministries and state-owned companies.
According to the association, specialised judges should also be assigned to such cases, so that investigations and criminal proceedings can be handled carefully and expeditiously. According to the VES, the approach must make clear that a zero-tolerance policy applies to corruption.
The association also calls on De Nationale Assemblée (Suriname’s parliament) to strengthen legislation against administrative corruption. It considers the introduction of a so-called ‘pluk-ze-wet’ important in this regard. With such an asset recovery instrument, movable and immovable property acquired with proceeds from corruption can be seized.
According to the VES, part of the recovered funds should be used to strengthen investigative and prosecutorial authorities and to better support investigators dealing with corruption cases.
