Brunswijk is new chairman of parliament

“This is a heavy chair”, said Ronnie Brunswijk (ABOP) when he symbolically sat in the chairman’s chair of parliament after having been given the gravel by acting chairman Soewarto Moestadja on Friday. Dew Sharman (VHP) is the new deputy chairman of parliament. In his maiden speech Brunswijk pointed out that what once seemed impossible has become a reality. “A maroon has become the chairman of parliament. Could it be true that God works in mysterious ways?”, said Brunswijk who promised that he would fulfill his duties with a clear conscience and according to the rules and regulations of parliament. “No distinctions will be made between opposition and coalition.” The opposition did not present any candidates to run for office. Andre Misiekaba, leader of the NDP faction, explained that “we chose not to present any candidates in order to let everything take place efficiently”. “I think that we can work with them”, said Misiekaba who leads the biggest opposition faction in parliament. “We are democrats and when we look at the political reality I think that it was necessary to make this statement in this manner.” The new coalition which is led by the VHP applauded the opposition’s cooperation. “The bar has been set high”, said President Desi Bouterse as he referred to the groundbreaking work that has been done by Brunswijk’s predecessor, Jennifer Geerlings-Simons.