Suriname’s President calls on nationals to put aside their differences
President Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokhi calls on all citizens to put aside their differences, which he says “worries me seriously”, and come together to deal with the socio-economic problems confronting Suriname.
Santokhi, acknowledging that the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country is going through difficult times, urged citizens to have patience and confidence in his administration.
“As the father of the country, I call on society to abandon any differences between individuals and groups, especially when I see a strong degree of polarisation in my country. It seriously worries me,” Santokhi said in a message to mark the Holi festival, or Phagwa, a Hindu celebration.
He said although the festival is rooted in Hindu tradition, it is celebrated worldwide. In Suriname, “we all celebrate this festival to all population groups can no longer ignore it.
“Unity, therefore, is one of the most important themes of the festival. The moral behind the story is that good always wins over evil.”
Santokhi said he recognises that Suriname is “not in an easy time.” Still, as head of state, “I ask you to exercise some patience; the government will not let you down, have faith in our government if we will work together for a better Suriname.
“No matter how difficult the situation is in the country, we must not choose the path of evil but the path of good. The path of evil brings no solution. Let’s move together in unity and deal with all the evil in our society,” he added.
Last month, several people stormed the National Assembly protesting the socioeconomic policies of the Santokhi administration. Their action also led to looting and clashes with law enforcement officials, resulting in the arrest of many people.
Santokhi said that although the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is under control, he urges the population to observe the celebrations with all the guidelines in place for preventing the spread of the virus that has infected thousands and killed hundreds in Suriname over the past two years.
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