16 december 1998

FOLS THREATENS MINOV WITH LEGAL MEASURES

Robby Naarendorp, Chairman of the FOLS has announced that the FOLS will take steps to drag the Ministry of Education (MINOV) before a judge if it does not revoke the mutations for the teachers within two days. It has been reported that two teachers have been told they were no longer needed to give lessons at a certain school in Paramaribo. The Labor leader calls this a dirty trick and remarked that the teachers are about to face a dubble sentence since they have not received their salaries and are now also confronted with mutations. He pointed out that even though the MINOV is authorized to make mutations there should be justifiable reasons for this. The two teachers who were given mutations were advised by the FOLS to report for work at their shool today. In the meanwhile the FOLS will continue their actions of having the teachers attend school until 10 am after which they should report ill. This action will be evaluated later on this week when the FOLS plan to hold a meeting where decisions will be made to determine if further actions will be necessary.



MONIQUE ESSED OPENS UNFPA MEETING

Monique Essed-Fernandes, Director of the Suriname Foundation Projecta, will hold the opening speech at the United Nations- Population Conference that is scheduled to be held in The Hague, Holland from February 5th to February 12th 1999. ICPD+5, the title of this conference which stands for International Conference on Population and development has last been held in Cairo five years ago. At this conference that is very important for the countries of the world and its people decisions will be taken for population development, health, youth and rights. Mrs Essed has a seat in the advice team of 20 persons who are at present involved in preparations for this conference.



MINISTER DWARKA-PANDAY RECEIVES SOUTH KOREAN COUNCIL

The non residing Council of South Korea for Suriname Mr Fun Chul Lee has paid a courtesy visit to Defence Minister Ramon Dwarka-Panday. This meeting was to discuss the armed robberies that have been commited on Korean fishing boats. Mr Fun Chul Lee has been informed by the Minister of the steps that are being taken to prevent further crimiinal activites in our territorial waters. The Minister has informed him of the eight patrol boats that will be put in to guard against foreign military attacks and especially to guard our economic intersts. The Minister also spoke of three river patrol boats that have already arrived and of three sea and river patrol boats that are expected to arrive some time during the coming year. These boats are outfitted with Hi-tech apparatus that guaranties an effective and efficient operation. The Minister explained that the frequency of robberies in our waters in the period 1996 has reduced even though there was a lack of measures. He told of the ministry's hiring trawlers to do the job of patrol boat but that these boats are slow and do not have any modern equipment. The Minister also spoke of coming meetings that will be held with authorities from the both neighboring countries of Guyana and French Guyana to discuss how to prevent further armed robberies in our territorial waters and piracy on sea. The Council is very pleased with this information and has stated that his government would like to help in any way to guarantee the safety of the fishers. Minister Dwarka-Panday said that the government would accept any help to safeguard our waters. Mr Fung Chul Lee resides in Caracas Venezuela.

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