Henk Ramdin, Suralco's director will retire at the ending of this year after having served this
company for the past 30 years. Ramdin who has filled the position of Director for the past 7 years
will be replaced by Johnny Palmer, an American, who is at present the works manager at
Paranam. Palmer, who is in his fifties, came to Suralco some 3 years ago after having worked at
different Alcoa locations. As Plant Manager, Palmer has been responsible for the every day
running of Suralco's Paranam Operations. Ramdin's departure marks an end of a 7 year Suriname-leadership of this American Company. Uncle Henk (as he is fondly called by employees) is wished
a happy pension.
Since the Joint-force group had begun their actions 4 weeks ago, many butcheries around
Paramaribo have not been able to function properly. Butchers are complaining that they cannot
meet their financial demands and have informed their staff that should this situation continue they
could only guarantee payment for the next two months after which they will be forced to close.
According to cattle-breeder Ronald Dassaveedo a meeting will have to be set up with the Union
Leaders to solve this problem. The CLO had given dispensation to the slaughterhouse employees
but after two days the butchers again ran out of meat because of the limited amount they are alloted. Cattle owners also face problems with the rising X-Change rates and the concurrence of the
vast supply of imported meat on the market. Dassaveedo said it was a pity that the law protecting
the local cattle breeders by prohibiting the importation of meat is not being enforced. The meat
sector , according to Dassaveedo has been successful before the rise of the X-change rates that
now have also taken its toll of this sector. Efforts to form an organization of cattle breeders and
butchers have so far had a negative result. This is a pity because as an organization it would have
been easier to gain better results especially in the purchasing of feed and medicines for the live
stock.
The Dutch cabinet is not going to grant financial aid to Suriname until they can be sure of a stable
regime.This came to light during a budget debate on thursday in the Dutch Assembly. It has also
been reported that even if there was a resumption of the talks between Suriname and Holland,
Paramaribo should not expect to see any cash in the near future. This point was taken by the
Dutch Minister of foreign affairs Van Aartsen who has been criticized by another member of
Parliament Verhagen (CDA) for being totally without ambition.
GOVERNMENT CANNOT PAY DIACONESSEN HOSPITAL
It is obvious that the government are not able to pay the Diaconessen Hospital the sum of 386
million guilders that they owe them. A law suit has been filed against the government by this
hospital as in effort to get this money. At a meeting of parties on wednesday a solution had still
not been found. Under director Kalloe of Social Affairs has confessed to the debt but stated that
the Ministry of Finance should pay the bill. Finance has told Social Affairs that they should pay it
themselves but this ministry has no money. This is causing a lot of financial problems for the
hospital that barely had the funds to cover the salaries for the past month. Reports state that the
other hospital too are camping with financial problems. According to director Rabin Parmissar of
the Academic hospital it would be difficult for even Mandrake the Magician to run the hospital at
this moment.
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