Central Market embezzlement probe still ongoing
Contrary to the article that was published in Times of Suriname on November 27, 2018 the investigation into the misappropriation of nearly SRD 860,000 at the Central Market is still ongoing. The Ministry of Regional Development has no say in the investigation and its only role is to cooperate with the investigators. In an interview with Times of Suriname, the director at Regional Development, Wilco Finisie, on November 26 announced that the Internal Control Department at the Ministry of Regional Development stopped screening the financial records from 2016 until after the payment system at the Central Market has been fully automated. He recently made it clear that he had not commented on the investigation but that he had only discussed the specific activities at the Internal Control Department. It will reportedly take two months to implement the automated system and to evaluate and address the teething pains. After that the department will pick up where it left off with the screening of the financial records so that it can present its final report to the minister in the first semester of 2019. The Regional Development Ministry repeatedly made it clear that the investigation of the Public Prosecutor’s Office into the embezzlement and the internal investigation that is being carried out by the ministry are being carried out separately. China and Suriname is geographically far from each other, but our friendship is close and deep. China is one of the first countries that recognizes the independence of Suriname. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1976, China and Suriname have always respected each other, trusted each other and supported each other. Our relations has set up a good example in South-South cooperation.
In recent years, frequent highlevel exchanges between China and Suriname have further enhanced trust between us. President Xi Jinping and President Bouterse have met three times, setting out a clear vision to our bilateral relations in the future. This September, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi paid an official visit to Suriname. This is the first visit by a Chinese Foreign Minister and set a new milestone in ChinaSuriname relations.
China and Suriname are good friends and good partners. I am very delighted to see that cooperation between our two countries has yielded fruitful results in various fields, such as office building of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, construction of roads, houses, community centers etc. At meantime, a number of projects such as the Wanica Hospital and the National Broadband Network are in good progress. All of these projects have made a positive contribution to the economic and social development of Suriname. Each year, China provides government scholarships and short-term training opportunities to help Suriname personnel training and human resources development. The Chinese government offered immediate relief assistance to the Zika epidemic and the inland flooding, helping people of Suriname to go through difficult times and to rebuild their homes.
In May, Suriname took the lead in the Caribbean region by signing a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, injecting new dynamics in the China-Suriname relationship. This will boost for more cooperation between our two countries in infrastructure, finance, agriculture and tourism.
In about three months, I visited Paramaribo and its neighboring districts and met many friends from all walks of life. They all commend highly the help from China. The road of more than 1,000 kilometers built by Chinese company connects the different parts of Suriname and facilitates movement of people and goods. The Wanica Hospital will help improve the medical facilities of Suriname. Projects such as affordable housing will deliver tangible benefits to the people of Suriname. None of these would be possible without the efforts of Chinese companies and their staff, nor would it be possible without the participation and support of the government and the people of Suriname.