MPs demand full disclosure from Alcoa/Suralco

Opposition MP Asieskoemar Gajadien (VHP) and MP Krishnakoemarie Mathoera (VHP) recently sent a letter to the management team at the Suriname Aluminum Company (Suralco) and Alcoa to demand that both they instantly break off all negotiations and to fully disclose publicly all details of what up till now has been agreed upon between Suralco (Alcoa) and the government of Suriname or any other party for that matter with respect to the unilaterally premature termination of the Brokopondo Agreement. The MPs pointed out that based on sparsely received information they have come to understand that the two parties i.e. Alcoa (Suralco) and the Surinamese government, in an atmosphere of secretiveness have concocted a shady deal that is highly unfavorable and detrimental to the interests of the people of Suriname. “Despite unanimous calls from political leaders and others there has not been any talk of clarity and transparency in terms of conditions and arrangements that should have been agreed upon between Suralco and the Surinamese government as from the very first moment of the announcement in 2015 to the present day,” said the legislators who added that the Surinamese people are entitled to full disclosure. “Cessation of all of Alcoa’s industrial operations as of 2016, i.e. closing and dismantling of the alumina refinery plant at Paranam resulted in the dismissal of several hundreds of personnel, which in turn has caused major impact on the Surinamese economy and an unexpected increase of the rate of unemployment. The undersigned are of the opinion that negotiating methods of such a disreputable kind are considered a flagrant violation of globally accepted principles and standards for responsible business conduct consistent with applicable law and internationally recognized standards,” said the legislators who added that several actions of Alcoa/ Suralco have created mistrust among the people. “It appears to be Suralco who has unilaterally disclosed and announced to the government of Suriname its intention to prematurely terminate the Brokopondo Agreement in 2015. Despite unanimous calls from political leaders and others there has not been any talk of clarity and transparency in terms of conditions and arrangements that should have been agreed upon between Suralco and the Surinamese government as from the very first moment of the announcement in 2015 to the present day.”