December 22, 1998

From police reports we gather that there were nine cases of missing persons in 1998 of which more than half were children. According to Inspector Ro Gajadhar there were many more that have not been reported to the police. Police spokesman Humphrey Simson stated that many young children leave their homes but that there are cases where kids are abducted and are victims of all sorts of negative practices. He pointed out that some end up in night clubs as prostitutes while others are sent to the interior where they are forced into sexual practices. Children are also being used by the drug barrons as couriers. Simson reported the case of a young girl who was not yet 14 years of age when she was abducted and was later found on Stoelmans Island with a serious case of venereal disease. The Inspector reported that this case was not published because of the traumatic consequences for the teener and also to avoid possible stigmatization from others her age. There have also been cases where kids leave home on their own accord to stay with friends with whom they may have an intimate relation. Most of the time these children or teeners return home after a couple of weeks if the parents promise not to enforce punishment. Even though missing persons are not always victims of crimes there have been a few cases where older people were reported to be missing and have ended up murdered. Gadajar explained that the police do not start publishing a "Missing Person's Report" at the very start of such an investigation but that they first hold investigations around the neighbourhood where the person lived. If after a period of two weeks in which family and friends are questioned over the missing person and during which nothing further has been heard from them then the police publishes a Missing Person Report. The police usually gives the parents the chance to settle these matters without the unnecessary publicity that in most cases can have a negative influence on the life of the child.

The National Army has been equipped with one of the two planes that the Government has bought for it. This is a Casa 212. Apart from the planes the government has also ordered two patrol boats for the Army. This way the government hopes that the Army will now be able to function properly. Reports from the Office of the Army's Commander state that both the planes and the boats were bought in Spain to protect our economic zone.

COAST TRADERS CANNOT GUARANTEE FERRY CONNECTIONS

Suriname Coast Traders cannot guarantee the ferry services towards the Suriname Shipping Company (SMS) after today. Coast Traders has reported that since February this year no rent has been paid for the ferries. The amount has now run up to hundreds of millions of guilders. Coast Trader Director Cecil Mannes is forced to stop the ferry services until SMS comes up with the rent. Coast Traders are now in financial problems because of this where the salaries and bonuses for the month of December are in danger of not being paid. The SMS were informed of this on friday last but until today no reaction has been received from the side of the SMS.

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