NPS party congress nominates Levens and Tjon A Hing for ministerial posts

The Congress of the National Party Suriname (NPS) on Saturday nominated Marie Levens as its candidate for the ministerial post at the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture while it also presented Sylvano Tjon A Hing as its candidate for the Ministry of Environmental Planning and Environment. All the division of the congress of the green party reportedly support the decision to present these two candidates.

NPS chairman Gregory Rusland announced that

Danielle Beeldsnijder and Shanti Venetiaan decided to drop out of the race before announcing that they have no objections against the nomination of Levens and Tjon A Hing. They reportedly wish to be deployed elsewhere within the government.

Levens who initially had no ambitions to fill the ministerial post eventually gave in. Rusland explained that there have constantly been talks with the structures of the party regarding the current activities and agreements that have been made. He made it clear that the party has bylaws and that each decision is made in accordance with these bylaws.

One important rule is that the Congress adopts the choice of the main board and all of the divisions before presenting the candidates for the ministerial posts. “Nobody else makes that decision,” said the chairman before condemning the fact that “people are deliberately trying to damage the party.”

He added that “many people do not know what happens within the organization.” Rusland also applauded Beeldsnijder’s decision to drop out of the race despite the fact that she had received the majority of votes from the structures. “I am proud of Levens who has proven herself within the education sector on national and international level.”