President Chan Santokhi has met with representatives from various districts to discuss issues related to land matters. They were given the opportunity to directly present their complaints and concerns regarding land applications to the president. According to the representatives, complaints have been lodged, yet citizens have not received any responses, despite the issuance of lists. Often, citizens are unaware of the status of their applications. Furthermore, instances of dual allocations have been reported, and communication has been deemed insufficient. During this meeting at the Presidential Office on Monday, Minister Dinotha Vorswijk and Undersecretary Sieuwkoemar Ramsukul of Land Policy and Forest Management were also present. The head of state emphasized that since his assumption of office, resolving land issues and addressing backlogs has been prioritized. He noted that significant steps have been taken, including tackling expired land rights and issues surrounding leasehold rights.
President Santokhi requested that the ministry provide an update on the status of these lists. “I want to know what is happening with the lists and initiate a process today to resolve these matters promptly,” he underscored. There have also been lists submitted to the office, which include a summary of what has been addressed. According to the president, this should be the case with all structures. “We need to coordinate this now.” Minister Vorswijk confirmed that many documents have been submitted, but matters such as transfers and distributions are no longer executed by the ministry itself. She explained that citizens, therefore, wait in vain for a response from the ministry. “The ministry receives letters daily, yet we face challenges such as a shortage of fuel and vehicles.” The minister proposed implementing a process with a timeline for each district, allowing for focused work on the issues in those areas, as reported by the Suriname Communication Service.
Undersecretary Ramsukul supported this suggestion, stating that if all documents are provided, the lists could be reviewed to ascertain what has already been resolved. The president urged for swift action and requested that the ministry, together with the representatives, works rapidly to resolve land issues. A considerable amount has already been resolved, but it remains unclear what has or has not been addressed. It was agreed that this week, an overview of outstanding matters would be compiled to ensure a proactive approach to solving the issues. With this strategy, the government aims to restore citizens’ trust in land policy and put an end to prolonged waiting times and bureaucratic hurdles.
