Fewer people join protest

The second day of the protest that was held in the inner city of Paramaribo also went smoothly on Friday. Store owners also kept their businesses closed for several hours on Friday so that their employees could join the protest. Others closed their businesses because the protestors would pass their businesses as they marched through the inner city. Fewer people, however, joined the protest on Friday. Despite the rain, people assembled at Kerkplein before marching through the inner city on their way to the Office of the Vice President which is also known as the government building and which is located along the Dr Sophie Redmondstraat. Dayanand Dwarka whose a member of the executive board at the C-47 labor union federation pointed out that the people are going through difficult circumstances and that “things could not go on like this.” “Every time when the president said that he will bring the exchange rate down, the opposite happens. If the government can’t guarantee the people a better life, it should pack up and leave,” said Dwarka. Curtis Hofwijks, leader of the We are Tired group of activists, pointed out that “it is not an easy fight which is why I urge all groups to strengthen our campaign.” Hofwijks on Friday urged entrepreneurs and in particular the storeowners to support the protest because they would also benefit from the outcome. Union Chairman Robby Naarendorp pointed out that “one must not think that people would keep marching until the end of time.” “The union movement will resume it protest on Monday but it will switch to second gear. We must make the switch to the next phase especially given the fact that the government is not responding to the demands that have been set,” Naarendorp told the protestors on Friday as they stood in front of the government building. The protest will start at Kerkplein around 10: 30 a.m. on Monday.