Brunswijk: “I haven’t seen Amafo since 2015”

It is unclear what kind of position Alice Amafo has at the ABOP especially given the fact that the chairman of this opposition party has not seen her since 2015. “I haven’t seen Amafo in a very long time,” said Ronnie Brunswijk as he refferd to Amafo who was called the princess of ABOP before 2015. According to political sources Amafo is reportedly trying to get close to the Progressive Reform Party (VHP). Brunswijk does not want to comment on these rumors. Records from the ABOP indicate that Amafo has not cancelled her membership but the fact remains that she has not attended any activities of the party after the general elections of 2015. In 2015 she was on top of the list of ABOP’s candidates for Paramaribo. But she suffered a huge political blow when she was pushed aside so that Edward Belfort could represent the party in parliament. Sources from within the party indicate that her decision to take a step back was based on the fact that she was replaced. Brunswijk did not comment on that but acknowledged that he has not heard anything from Amafo since the election results were announced. Amafo’s name is reportedly being mentioned because of an ongoing investigation into the disappearance of funds at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing (Sozavo) in 2014. Amafo was the then minister of Social Affairs on behalf of the ABOP. Brunswijk made it clear that he is not convinced that Amafo misappropriated funds that were intended for the payment of general child allowance. The ABOP chairman also does not object to the investigation that was launched but pointed out that he wonders why only certain cases are being investigated. He made it clear that the government must also ask the attorney general to investigate the disappearance of funds at the After School Care Project and Carifesta 2013.