Suriname outlines regional development plans in Panama

During the eighteenth Ministerial Forum for Development in Latin America and the Caribbean in Panama City, Suriname’s Minister of Regional Development, Miquella Huur, presented strategic plans to develop the country’s interior. The initiative aims to transform Apoera, Atjoni, Snesikondre, and Stoelmanseiland into strategic regional centers to improve access to infrastructure, basic services, and economic opportunities.

Key infrastructure projects include the restoration of approximately 90 kilometers of existing roads and the construction of 30 kilometers of new road connections in the Upper Suriname area. These improvements are intended to enhance accessibility to schools, healthcare, and agricultural zones. The government is also prioritizing education, clean drinking water, and climate-resilient agriculture, noting that 90 students from Marowijne, Brokopondo, and Sipaliwini have begun agricultural training programs.

Minister Huur emphasized the importance of collective land rights for indigenous and tribal peoples, stating that Suriname is working toward a land rights conference in 2027. Additionally, she called for international solidarity and financing that recognizes the vulnerabilities of forest-rich but climate-sensitive nations like Suriname, which remains nearly 93 percent forested despite facing threats from rising sea levels and flooding.