MPs criticize use of inconsistent exchange rates in development plan

Legislators want the government to clarify why it has chosen to work with an exchange rate of SRD 7 for 1 American dollar in its Development Plan 2017-2021 because the government reportedly works with an exchange rate of SRD 7.47 for calculating the total debt ratio. As a result of that the calculations produce a debt of 66.3% of the Gross National Product (GNP). MP Patrick Kensenhuis, chairman of the Committee of Rapporteurs for the Development Plan and the draft State Budget, on Tuesday asked several questions regarding the issue. He also referred to the fact that the 1 American dollar currently costs about SRD 7.60. He therefore urged the government to remain consistent when using the exchange rate in its Development Plan 2017-2021. He explained that the various figures could be susceptible to multiple interpretations. MP Kensenhuis put the emphasis on the production sector and the environment protection issue which according to him demand more efforts and investments. He pointed out that “the Development Plan does not really focus on production and in particular local entrepreneurship.” “I urge the government to focus on local production and to include it in the plan,” said MP Kensenhuis who also urged the government to provide special training to people so that they could become agrarian experts who could help improve and strengthen the production sector. The legislator urged the government to address the environment protection issue because “while we make good use the environment, we must also tackle environment pollution.”