Burgercollectief to rally in Saramacca District
A street rally will be organized in the Saramacca District. Benito Semwell, coordinator at the Burgercollectief/ We are courageous (We zijn moedig) in Saramacca, told Times of Suriname that a regional office was established in Groningen on Sunday night. Next week a second regional office will be established in Freyburg. Semwell pointed out that a street rally will be organized after the establishment of the secod regional office.
Curtis Hofwijks and Wim Bakker attended the establishment of the regional office in Groningen. Semwell pointed out that the group is getting bigger. The group which was previously active in the Commewijne District included Saramacca in its expansion plans which are aimed at getting the government to step down “because of its mismanagement.” Semwell also pointed out that many members of the local community want to join the group of activists “but there is a certain degree of rancor towards the people in Saramacca which is why they are afraid to participate.” “The people are afraid of losing their jobs. Some of them do not even know the identity of the local members of the resort and district council because the council members never approach them to listen to their problems.”
Semwell expressed his concerns regarding the current state of affairs in the agrarian sector and indicated that the Saramacca residents criticize the policy of the Ministry of Agriculture, Stock Breeding and Fisheries (LVV). The residents also complained about black-outs that take place almost every week even though the State Oil Company (Staatsolie) as biggest source of energy is located in the district.
The residents pointed out that their appliances break down as a result of the fluctuations on the network and that they do not receive any compensation. Semwell made it clear that Burgercollectief/‘We zijn moedig’ is an action group and not a political party. “Everybody and in particular the people from Saramacca can join us regardless of their political color or ethnicity in the fight against the government’s policy. We listen to everybody.”