Jennifer Simons pushes Suriname interior services beyond Paramaribo

President Jennifer Simons said suriname development must not stop at Paramaribo, pointing to recent visits in Boven-Suriname and Galibi where the government is continuing work on electricity and drinking water. Several villages have already been connected to solar energy systems that provide electricity throughout the day, backed by batteries and a backup generator.

Boven-Suriname and Galibi

Simons said the energy projects in Galibi and parts of Boven-Suriname have already changed daily life for residents who once depended on limited power supplies and fuel generators. She described the response in those villages plainly: “De mensen zijn er blij mee”.

That program did not begin with her presidency. The government said it started several years ago and has been continued by successive governments, with the aim of reaching nationwide coverage of energy supply.

Electricity gaps remain

Even with solar systems in place, some areas still need additional work before the electricity network functions optimally. Old wiring still needs to be replaced in some places, and the government wants better street lighting in the villages.

Simons said the state is considering standalone street lamps with their own solar panels. Some villages already have financing in place for those projects, while the government is still looking for funds for other areas.

Drinking water expansion

Safe drinking water remains one of the biggest needs in several interior villages, and Simons said the government is preparing to expand supply further. The government already has pumps donated by the Chinese government, and those systems form part of the next phase of work.

Simons also cautioned against expecting quick results. “Dingen komen niet in één dag of in één maand,” she said, as the interior continues to wait for the kind of basic services that are still uneven outside Paramaribo.