January 29, 1999
SOUTH AFRICA WANTS TO WORK TOGETHER WITH SURINAME
South Africa would like to work together with Suriname in the following
sectors: mining, agriculture and tourism. This was said by the South-African
non residing ambassador T. Luthui-Geabasche. The ambassador stated that
trade between the two countries was irregular and small and that South
Africa would like to see an improvement in this in the future. The ambassador
would also like to promote trade, tourism and industry between South Africa
and the Caricom. To achieve this discussions will have to be set up with
the Caricom to abolish the visa regulations and to grant landing rights
to South African Airlines. The ambassador talked about the similiarities
of both countries. Both having been at one time a colony of the Dutch and
a large group of the Suriname people having fore-fathers in West-Africa.
The ambassador also stated that his country was for the South-South cooperation.
President Wijdenbosch spoke of the heroic way in which the South African
people have fought for their freedom and remarked that the South African
people were an example for the world as a nation that has successfully
fought and broken the yoke of oppression.
IDB GIVES US$ 728.000 FOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS
The IDB has given US$ 728.000 as support for the preparation of the Community
Development Fund. This Fund is a joint project of the IDB and the MInistry
of Regional Development and is meant for the social development, poverty
control and demonstrations in the districts. With this money that was given
by the Japanese Government via the IDB 15 projects will be carried out
in all 10 districts. The projects being setup are for water supply, electricity,
building and renovation of schools, training centrums, multi-purpose community
centrums and boat-landings in the interior. Each of these projects is said
to be between the 10.000 and 50.000 dollars.
COURT OF JUSTICE DIVIDED IN TWO CAMPS AS JUDICIARY
ADO CONTINUES
The Suriname Court of Justice has now been divided into 2 camps both with
their own agenda over jurisdiction. The Dean of the Order of Barristers,
Geetapersad Gangaram Panday said that by appointing the 8 candidate-judges
a situation has arisen for which the Bar, that represents the 3 main Barrister
organizations, has been afraid of. You now have a Court that is headed
by Alfred Veldema who was lately appointed President of the Court of Justice
in one corner and in the other you have Mr. John von Niesewand Vice-President
of the Court of Justice. According to Gangaram Panday there is a chaotic
situation at the Court right now where the Courts-clerks, Lawyers and Judges
are at a loss as where to go from here? Because of this, the judiciary
will hold an emergency meeting today to take a standing point about the
appointments and possition about the Institute. The Lawyers will also come
together today to discuss how to deal with the problem around the appointments
of Veldema and Rozenblad. According to Gangaram Panday, President Wijdenbosch
has shown no respect for the advice of the Court for the 8 candidate-judges.
The Court had advised that some of the candidates were not suitable to
fill the possitions, but the President made his own decission in this matter
which has now caused dissatisfaction undre the members of the Judiciary.
-End-