{"id":191634,"date":"2026-09-30T14:23:26","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T17:23:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/keynews.sr\/?p=191634&preview=true&preview_id=191634"},"modified":"2026-09-30T12:23:26","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T15:23:26","slug":"gran-kreek-officially-warned-only-months-after-contamination-trust-in-government-now-only-fifty-percent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/keynews.sr\/en\/gran-kreek-officially-warned-only-months-after-contamination-trust-in-government-now-only-fifty-percent\/","title":{"rendered":"Gran Kreek officially warned only months after contamination: \u2018Trust in government now only fifty percent\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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While pollution of the Saramaccarivier<\/a> has been a matter of concern for months, the community of Gran Kreek was only recently officially warned not to fish, swim or use the water in the creeks. Captain Angelique Palmtak calls that late warning \u201cvery sad\u201d and says confidence in the government has declined sharply within the community.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

P<\/span>almtak says she was formally involved in the process surrounding the pollution about a week to a week and a half ago. Before that, she had already advised residents on her own initiative to be cautious. \u201cI myself already told the people: it is better not to swim or fish. But now it is official,\u201d the captain tells journalists.<\/p>\n

According to her, it is incomprehensible that communities along creeks directly connected to the Saramaccarivier were not included earlier in the investigation and the warnings.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is very sad. The Saramaccarivier has many creeks. Water flows in and back out. Then those areas must also be investigated,\u201d Palmtak states.<\/p>\n

Community dependent on fishing<\/h3>\n

The warning has hit Gran Kreek hard. Many residents depend on fishing, hunting and the use of natural water sources for their daily food supply.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn our community, people live from fish, fishing and hunting. This is really serious,\u201d Palmtak says. According to her, the government<\/a> cannot therefore suffice with only a ban or warning. There must also be clarity on how long the situation will last and what support will be available for residents who are temporarily unable to use their usual food sources.<\/p>\n

\u2018How long must people wait?\u2019<\/h3>\n

Palmtak says she already raised questions about follow-up investigations during a meeting in Pikin Poika. She wants to know how often the water and fish will be tested again and when residents will be able to safely use the creeks again. \u201cWhen can we use our creeks again? When can we fish again? You came to conduct research, but will you come back? And after how many weeks?\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the captain, earlier meetings indicated that harmful substances had also been found in live fish. According to her, this raises even more questions about possible long-term exposure. \u201cIf it is now in live fish and people have already eaten those fish, who says that pollution was not there earlier?\u201d<\/p>\n