Will Indian-origin leader Adhin play a pivotal role as Suriname votes for historic change?

Paramaribo (Suriname), May 28 (NationPress) – As Suriname prepares to welcome its first female President, Jennifer Geerlings-Simons of the National Democratic Party (NDP), former Vice President and scholar Michael Ashwin Satyandre Adhin — a distinguished Hindu leader of Indian descent — is anticipated to assume a significant cabinet role in the upcoming government.

Born in 1953 in Paramaribo, the capital and largest city of Suriname, Simons will take over from the incumbent President Chandrikapersad Santokhi of the United Reformed Party (VHP), after the NDP secured 18 out of 51 seats in the recent General Elections held on Sunday, marking a new political chapter for the South American nation.

The 71-year-old has been a member of Suriname's National Assembly since 1996 and reportedly has garnered support from leaders of other political parties to form a coalition, pushing Santokhi's VHP, which obtained 17 seats, into the opposition.

Meanwhile, Adhin, who was the youngest Vice-President of Suriname from 2015 to 2020, is expected to join Simons' cabinet and take on a vital role in the new administration.

Before his Vice Presidency, Adhin served as the Minister of Education, Science, and Culture, and was a lecturer at the Anton de Kom University of Suriname.

A recipient of the prestigious national honor, the Order of the Yellow Star, for his contributions to the Surinamese community—especially those of Indian heritage—Adhin is recognized for his advocacy in education, science, and intellectual innovation, and has contributed to over 600 development projects.

"Access to affordable housing, clean drinking water, quality healthcare, and education are fundamental rights for all citizens. Our youth should not have to leave the country; Suriname must be their future," he recently asserted.

Commending advancements along the north-eastern coast of South America, Rajkumar Jagbandhan, a member of the Advisory Board of International Investment Bankers in Frankfurt, Germany, emphasized the need for Suriname to adopt a self-sufficient and environmentally conscious development strategy without yielding to international pressures.

"This newly elected leadership carries the duty of elevating the Republic of Suriname to new heights," said Jagbandhan, who is actively involved in various initiatives under BRICS, ASEAN, African Union, European Union, and the United Nations.

Under Jagbandhan's leadership, a proposal has been suggested to establish an international investment bank in Suriname, intending to invest over one billion dollars in agriculture, energy, mining, tourism, banking, fintech, crypto, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors. The bank, according to Jagbandhan, will adhere to international technological standards in fintech banking, trade finance, smart POS systems, stocks, and micro-credit, thus creating new economic empowerment prospects for the local populace.

Situated in the Amazon region, Suriname boasts abundant natural resources, and both Jagbandhan and Adhin believe that the previous VHP administration was "trapped by the illusion of oil and gas," while the NDP—established in 1987 by Desi Bouterse with a vision to foster democracy, social justice, and economic growth—has "already shown foresight" by creating a State Petroleum Company.