State wins legal battle against police union

The State on Thursday won the lawsuit that the police union had filed against the government, the Minister of Justice and Police and the police commissioner. Nailah van Dijk, the attorney representing the State, told Times of Suriname that the judge rejected the lawsuit. The police union was also instructed to pay for the costs of the legal proceedings.

Van Dijk pointed out that she had made it clear in court that the union is unauthorized to file such a lawsuit on behalf of its members. The judge reportedly agreed with her. The union had asked the court to put a stop to the sport test which is a requirement for getting promoted to a higher rank. Having a driver’s license is also a mandatory requirement if a police officer wants to get promoted. The lawsuit was also aimed at restoring the legal position of all union members who have been affected by the requirements since 2013. The union also asked the court to impose a daily penalty of SRD 1 million in case the government fails to execute the verdict.

Revelino Eijk, spokesman of the union, told Times of Suriname that the judge rejected the union’s demand on formal grounds which is why the question as to if the sport test and the driver’s license requirements are lawful has remained unanswered. The union will of course lodge an appeal. “We have lost the battle but not the war,” said Eijk who added that the union had written a letter to then Minister Jennifer van Dijk-Silos but that it had never received a reply. The union on Thursday sent a letter to acting Justice and Police Minister Ferdinand Welzijn to ask for a meeting. “We will still want to talk to the minister,” said Eijk. The minister of Justice and Police and the police commissioner had reportedly hired Monique Vos as their attorney.