“The ministry needs more money”

A unit from the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) unit of the Police Force Suriname (KPS) will set up shop at the Johan Adolf Pengel (JAP) International Airport to keep an eye on the flow of Haitians to Suriname. Reports indicate that about 11,000 Haitians have traveled to Suriname with a tourist card since March. The tourist cards have already expired but the Haitians never checked out. According to the justice officials, about 2,000 Haitians have left for neighboring Guyana and French Guiana which means that there are still about 9,000 Haitians in Suriname. Justice and Police Minister van Dijk-Silos pointed out that she has received information which suggests that Haitians who recently arrived in Suriname probably ended up in the hands of human traffickers. Officials are therefore trying to track down their whereabouts. They also want to know exactly how many Haitians have left Suriname for Guyana and French Guiana. Just like other ministries, the Justice and Police Ministry is also in need of money. The lack of funds to finance operations is hampering operational programs. “The ministry needs more money,” said the minister. MP Chandrikapersad Santokhi (VHP) expressed concerns regarding the fate of these people who are at risk of ending up in the hands of human traffickers because of their illegal status. MP Santokhi wants minister Jennifer van Dijk-Silos to find out what has happened to these people “because their temporary stay of 30 days has already expired.” “What has happened to them?”