Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte acknowledged on Wednesday “the horrible suffering inflicted on slaves” in Suriname, at the end of a two-day visit to the South American country, a former Dutch colony until its independence in 1975.
“Recognition is the beginning of our present. I look forward to learning more about the social impact of this visit. I want to hear first-hand what the past of slavery means today for different population groups in Suriname”, stressed the minister.
A speech before the National Assembly (Parliament) made on the third-fair at night and transmitted through the local media, the Dutch Prime Minister guaranteed that the deed was “a system of his own” and that this acknowledgment was necessary just as it was 150 years later.
“[É necessário o] Recognition of the horrible suffering inflicted on the slaves, recognition of the struggle and resistance that took place and, of course, recognition of the social impact of the period of slavery in our present”, he stressed.
Mark Ruth also stressed that his government’s desire is for this recognition to be “as healing and reconciling as possible.”
Dutch leaders rarely visit Suriname and are reluctant to apologize for the forced relocation of thousands of Africans to their former colony.
On this subject, the president of the National Assembly of Suriname, Marinus Bee, mentioned during his speech that slavery remains “a thorny point” and that the Netherlands does not officially apologize for the suffering caused and does not sufficiently support its former colony. .
“Currently, it seems more the rule than the exception, that Surinamese are arbitrarily denied entry to Dutch territory, without giving a clear reason for refusing required visas for the Schengen area,” Bee said.
Rutte pointed out that the relationship between the Netherlands and Suriname has been broken at the government level for a long time, but that is changing and that, in addition, a delegation from the private sector has also expressed interest in improving bilateral ties.
In recent years, the Netherlands and Suriname have been working together through the Makandra program, with which several projects are carried out in the South American country.
On this program, Rutte reported that the budget will increase by four million euros, up to 10 million euros, expanding the education and water management programs.
The demand for apologies and even financial compensation for slavery is also raised in the Caribbean by former British colonies.
The president of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, asked Rutte on Tuesday for help in renegotiating a loan with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Source: TSF
