Bouterse wants new governor at Central Bank

President Desi Bouterse last week announced that he wanted a new government at the Central Bank of Suriname (CBvS) by Monday. Sources told Times of Suriname that the head of states already has a potential candidate but that he wants to discuss the matter with the Surinamese Bankers’ Association (SBV) first. This is also one of the agreements that was reached during two marathon sessions on the policy at the nation’s Central bank. The SBV pointed out that the important thing now is to limit the powers of the governor at the Central Bank of Suriname and to do so by adopting legislation. President Bouterse also agrees with this. The new governor will have to gain the trust of the local banks. “We have a situation at the Central Bank,” said the head of state at a press conference last week. Vijay Kirpalani, government commissioner at the Central Bank of Suriname, pointed out that it never should have been possible for cash reserves to be used without the possibility of having somebody sounding the alarm. “I really hope that we can solve this matter soon. If actions that were carried out were against the law then they must be brought to light,” said Kirpalani in response to the arrest of former governor Robert van Trikt. “We must collaborate because when the system crashes only one party loses and that is Suriname,” said Bouterse. The reporters asked the head of state to reveal the name of the potential candidate but he remained tight-lipped. Kirpalani made it clear that “I will not become the new governor.”