Jenny Simons sworn in as Suriname’s first female president, vows oil boom will benefit all citizens

Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 July 2025, 19:44 by Writer

by Ivan Cairo

PARAMARIBO – In a historic ceremony on Wednesday, Jenny Simons was sworn in as Suriname’s first female president, ushering in a new political era alongside Gregory Rusland, who was inaugurated as vice president. The two leaders take over from the outgoing administration of President Chandrikapersad Santokhi and Vice President Ronnie Brunswijk, who have governed the CARICOM nation for the past five years.

In her inaugural address, delivered at a packed Anthony Nesty Stadium during a special public session of Parliament, President Simons issued a powerful and unequivocal directive to her new administration: the windfall from Suriname’s emerging oil and gas sector must uplift the entire population — not just a select few.

“The incoming government has the task of ensuring that the profits from the oil and gas sector improve the standard of living for every Surinamese,” Simons declared, her tone calm yet resolute.

Her message struck directly at the core of Suriname’s most urgent dilemma: how to turn offshore oil discoveries into broad, inclusive prosperity. With major petroleum finds poised to reshape the national economy, Simons emphasized that time is short — and failure to act decisively would carry high costs. “We have little time left to prepare for this new phase in our economy,” she warned. “Much must be done, and it can only succeed with the participation of all Surinamers — at home and abroad.”

The president takes office amid both promise and peril. While Suriname faces daunting economic challenges — including high external debt, fiscal strain, and persistent social hardship — it also stands on the verge of an oil-fueled transformation. Simons made clear that her administration would not squander this opportunity.

“We are inheriting a country that still faces serious economic challenges,” she acknowledged, “but with good prospects for the future — if we succeed in bridging these first difficult years.”

She pledged to avoid the pitfalls that have plagued other resource-rich nations, where petroleum wealth has too often benefited a narrow elite. “There are enough examples around the world of nations where the development of this sector enriched only a few,” Simons said. “That must not be our story.”

Outlining the pillars of her administration’s strategy, Simons committed to a path of national recovery, institutional reform, and economic diversification. Priorities include restoring public health, strengthening education, investing in youth, and developing sustainable sectors like agriculture and tourism — while reducing the nation’s overreliance on extractive industries such as gold and oil.

“We must now show, through new ways of working, that we are capable of broadening our economic base,” she said. “Fiscal discipline is necessary, but we must also invest — in our people, our children, and in eradicating poverty.”

Simons also emphasized that any increase in state revenue must not come at the expense of working-class citizens. “Raising income for the state without driving the people deeper into poverty is the principle this government will uphold,” she affirmed.

Her appeal extended beyond borders. The president called on Suriname’s diaspora and every sector of society to participate in the nation’s renewal. “The economy is the work of people, for people,” she said. “Only we, the people of Suriname, can ensure a better future — and only if we act in unity.”

While her address steered clear of political point-scoring, its tone was firm and its expectations clear. Simons thanked her supporters but also expressed appreciation for her critics, stating that their opposition had made her stronger. She urged the nation to move beyond electoral divisions and see itself as united in the task ahead.

“Money is important — for families and for the nation — but it cannot buy well-being or happiness,” she reflected. “For that, we need people. We need each other.”

Simons also underscored the importance of decentralization. Her government, she said, will prioritize empowering local institutions and rolling out targeted programs to prepare Suriname for the coming economic transformation — starting this year.

As she begins her term, expectations are high. Her presidency marks not only a symbolic shift in Suriname’s political history but a deliberate break with old patterns. She made clear that success will not be measured by how much oil is extracted, but by how deeply the benefits reach the population.

“I stand here today as your president. I know this task will demand everything I have,” Simons concluded. “But I begin it with the full awareness that the future of Suriname will be shaped — not by me alone — but by all of us, together.”