State and Alcoa reach an agreement

The state and the bauxite company Alcoa have reportedly reached an agreement regarding the company’s exit. The state will once again regain ownership of the mining areas, including the concession at Nassau, the Coermotibo harbor in Marowijne and the staff village in Moengo. “We have reached an agreement with Suralco and want to take over so that we can return things to their old state with the help of the local community,” said President Desi Bouterse tduring a visit to the Marowijne District during the weekend. The head of state reportedly held talks with local communities in Moengo. He pointed out that the visits must not be regarded as an activity of a political party. “I am the chairman of the NDP but I did not come here to discuss the affairs of the NDP. I came to discuss the interests of Marowijne,” said President Bouterse who added that it is important to get the areas which will be ‘released’ by Alcoa via its subsidiary Suralco to flourish again. “It would be a pity to raze everything here to the ground,” said the president who was accompanied by Natural Resources Minister Regillio Dodson, Education, Science and Culture Minister Robert Peneux, Defense Minister Ronnie Benschop, the minister of Environmental Planning, Land and Forest Management Roline Samsoedien and the minister of Public Works, and Communication, Jerry Miranda. The head of state was also accompanied by the members of the presidential committee on Alcoa, Dilip Sardjoe and Marc Waaldijk. The president is expected to share the details of the agreement with the nation’s legislators at a private meeting.