“Annual speech is series of empty promises”

The Progressive Reform Party (VHP) recently issued a press release, indicating that the annual speech that the president gave in Parliament on Friday “is nothing more than a reference to a number of ambitious projects.” “The annual speech must be considered a series of empty promises, intentions and wishes that can’t be actualized due to the lack of vision, 6 years of mismanagement, the lack of academic workers, the lack of political will, corruption and squandering money. It is not the first time that the president has presented such plans. He has been presenting these plans since 2010 but has not managed to carry out much. Not even when the government received several billions in additional income. Given the track record of the current government, the VHP expects very little of the policy goals and policy programs. The president once again capitalized on the emotions of the people. The future salary raise for state employees, state retirees and those with equal status is aimed at preventing social unrest and that is contrary to what the government agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).” The VHP pointed out that Suriname’s economy is in deep trouble as a result of mismanagement. “President Bouterse is currently seeking bug loans at international banks but things are going slowly due to the lack of trust. The confidence in President Bouterse is crumbling a little bit every day. The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has announced that it will lend Suriname $ 1.8 billion. But there is no transparent policy because nobody is saying how the loans will be paid off and that is of grave concern to the VHP and the people,” said the VHP who added that it is also concerned about the fact that the Plan Bureau and other existing bureaus have been benched. The VHP wants realistic projects that are based on the needs of the Suriname people and that will contribute to the sustainable development of our country. The VHP wants the focus to be on good ideas with broad social support and less on the money. The VHP made it clear that previous projects turned out to be mega illusions that were highly sensitive to corruption. “After his annual speech President Bouterse went to Ocer (De Berm) to address a handful of supporters. Because of the poor turnout he criticized the VHP. He said that the VHP urged people to go on strike. The VHP never urged anybody to go on strike. The VHP does however support actions against the mismanagement of the current government and will continue to do so in the interest of the people and the country.”