“Show respect for these people and take their situation into account. Not only with words, but with actions,” writes Aniel Koendjbiharie, chairman of Stichting Wan Okasi, a Surinamese organisation that advocates for the interests of people with disabilities, on his Facebook page.
From phone calls and messages, he has understood that the allowance for persons with disabilities has still not been transferred, even though it is supposed to be paid on the 20th of the month. “Someone told me that today is his birthday, but he has no money.”
He further writes that these people receive an allowance that is already far below the poverty line. Yet almost every month it is the same story: “The payment comes days late.” Moreover, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing (SOZAVO) communicates nothing about the reason for the delay or when the money will be transferred.
The chairman further points out that Minister Diana Pokie is quick to want to publish the names of benefit recipients, so that neighbours and others can check whether someone is rightly or wrongly receiving an allowance. “Let the minister be just as eager to communicate properly with this target group and inform them in good time about when the allowance will be transferred,” writes the irritated Koendjbiharie.
