Press release 138/2000
(01 December 2000)

Excellency Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan, President of the Republic of Suriname and Mrs. Venetiaan,
The Vice-President of the Republic of Suriname, Jules Rattan Ajodhia and Mrs Ajodhia,
Excellency Hugo Chavez, President of the Bolivian Republic of Venezuela,
Excellency Jeltje van Nieuwenhoven, Speaker of the Lower Chamber House of the States General,
Excellency Pedro Edwin Croes, Speaker of the States of Aruba,
Excellency Dudley Lucia, Speaker of the States of the Netherlands Antilles,
Excellency Els Borst, Vice-Premier of the Kingdom of the Netherlands,
Excellency S. Hinds, Prime Minister of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,
Excellency Edwin Carrington, Secretary-General of the CARICOM,
Excellency Edgardo Reis, Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS),
Mrs. Lachmon,
Members of the Council of Ministers and other High Councils of State,
Members of the National Assembly,
Other Dignitaries,
Honourable invited guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

By hoisting the national flag in the night of 24 to 25 November 1975 at zero hour in the Surinamese stadium and with the signing of the transference of sovereignty by the Kingdom of the Netherlands on the 25^th of November 1975, Suriname became both symbolically and formally, a sovereign Republic.

Before it came this far, Suriname passed through a lengthy and striking process. With the opening of the Colonial States in 1866 as a representative body of a group of wealthy people in the society, followed by changing this body into the States of Suriname in 1936, by the introduction then of universal suffrage of men and women in 1948 and the setting up in 1949 of an interim-government with ministers who were responsible to the parliament chosen by the people of Suriname, our country became an autonomous territory in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Today, on the occasion of the commemoration of a quarter of a century of sovereignty, effected on the 25^th November 1975, as a result of which Suriname could take its own place in the row of peoples in the world, I therefore have the pleasure to welcome you all, invited guests, warmly.

A brief look-back teaches us that the independence of Suriname also came about because of developments within and beyond our borders. Already before and during the Second World War the colonial powers promised their colonies some kind of self-rule. And more than once former colonies had to wage war in order to become sovereign countries.

Excellencies, Invited guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

This process characterised itself here with us in Suriname by the foundation of parties which held political views, ranging from an extreme form of independence taking effect immediately, to more moderate forms of a gradual, well prepared independence after a period of time.

Issues which manifested themselves related among others to legal security and maintenance of law and order, democracy and constitutional state, nationality, formation of the army, the guaranteeing of human rights and of good governance; one can state furthermore the macro-economic development and the constitutional termination of the status of autonomous territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The ever escalating debates led to great unrest and caused particular anxiety in large sections of society. At the right moment however, common sense prevailed and national reconciliation was brought about in the night of 19 November 1975, known as the "brasa-dei" (the day of the hug), when the prime minister at that time walked up to the opposition leader and embraced him as a result of which the Constitution of the Republic of Suriname was adopted by general consent by Parliament.

Excellencies, Invited Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Republic of Suriname - endowed by nature with mineral wealth, fishing grounds and waters, a salutary environment with natural beauty and healthy air, considered from a cultural viewpoint as a "miniature united nations", became a member of the United Nations because it was determined to show its true worth as a democratic constitutional state and to develop itself socio-economically, educationally and culturally for the purpose of prosperity and welfare.

Unfortunately unpropitious developments took place; the principles of democracy and of the constitutional state were affected and were subjected to a gross form of erosion.

Crisis situations arose at the observance of justice and law and important independent administration of justice and a worrisome financial-monetary and economic downturn took place as well as stagnation in the sector of education and in health care while furthermore disturbances occurred in the built up relations with friendly nations.

Our independent state was not spared internal fratricidal struggle and international isolation during the past 25 years. One should explicitly state however that Suriname also stuck to the principle of self-reliance in very awkward situations.

More expressions of sympathy and moral support of friendly peoples and international organisations were accepted with gratitude during our dark days.

"Dialogue" and "consensus" were used as solution models with determination and conviction and not without success because we left the dark days behind us owing to our own efforts. A new Constitution was approved of by referendum and became effective in October 1987 after which by holding general elections, democracy was brought back, the constitutional state was restored, the international isolation was ended and the economy was put on the right track again.

With new zest, broadly shared, the new parliament and government tried to start the development process at which the authorities played a stimulating and facilitating, supporting and controlling role based on the principles of good governance, legal security and democracy.

A country that as regards natural resources is ranked high in the world; a people of men and women who have the necessary intellectual and moral capacities, who are determined to, in a globalising and liberalising world, take the development of their abilities in hand at which good relations with other countries are highly important.

Excellencies, Invited guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

All developing countries have become more vulnerable due to the actual process of mondialisation. The gap between North and South in getting larger as a result of the scientific and technological progress. Suriname will have to dedicate itself to strengthen its weak economy by making up the arrears in the digital information and communication technology and by effecting sustainable development.

We are convinced that we will succeed in constructing a society:

• in which democracy, justice and law are kept high and the economic development will lead us to prosperity and welfare;
• in which organised and cross-border criminality will be reduced to the minimum;
• in which men and women will work with each other and side by side;
• in which the youth will be offered optimal chances for education and development for their talents;
• in which every citizen feels safe because of the fact that he is being protected by the authorities which in a forceful way take actions against corruption;
• in which various groups of our people live together in harmony and in which our people maintain friendly relations with peoples in the region or elsewhere.

Just because I have trust in the Surinamese man and woman, I am convinced that Suriname occupies a dignified place in the row of peoples and that Suriname faces a good future.

From this perspective I therefore congratulate also on behalf of the whole Parliament our people with the 25^th anniversary of our Sovereignty.

All honour to the People of Suriname!

I express my thanks to all of you for the interest shown in the commemoration of this day.

May the blessing of the Almighty rest on our people.