President elect tests negative for COVID-19
President Desi Bouterse and president elect Chandrikapersad Santokhi both tested negative for COVID-19. Ronnie Brunswijk, chairman of parliament (DNA), on the other hand tested positive for the novel coronavirus. This is why the parliamentary session which had to prepare the election of the nation’s next president and vice president which was supposed to take place on Thursday has been moved to Monday. Sources told Times of Suriname that deputy chairman Dew Sharman will chair the session. Brunswijk has reportedly been admitted to the hospital. It is unclear if the presidential election will take place on July 9. The new coalition does not have the absolute majority due to the absence of
Brunswijk and NPS chairman Gregory Rusland who has also tested positive for COVID-19. Even with the support of opposition party BEP, the new coalition still lacks the absolute majority of votes in parliament. The entire building of parliament was thoroughly disinfected on Wednesday due to the fact that the three leaders of the new coalition who have tested positive for COVID-19 were present in parliament at the installation of the new members on Monday. The headquarters of the VHP and the NPS have also been disinfected from top to bottom because meetings between the chairmen of the coalition parties took place at those locations. “COVID-19 cases have most likely been detected in Grun Dyari and in parliament, said the chairman of the National Party Suriname (NPS), Gregory Rusland. Both he and his wife tested positive for COVID-19. The deputy chairman of the NPS, Jerrel Pawiroredjo, has also tested positive for COVID-19.
The headquarters of the NPS, Grun Dyari, was disinfected on Thursday while the headquarters if the VHP was disinfected from top to botto on Wednesday. “Today I also tested positive for COVID-19,” said Brunswijk on Wednesday. He urged his supporters not to worry. “I am at the AZ for observation. I am well and I am following the instructions of the doctors. This is a standard procedure of the COVID team and the Public Health Bureau,” said Brunswijk. Very little is known about the condition of Somohardjo, chairman of the PL. He has reportedly been admitted to the ICU of the AZP.