Suriname Parliament Presses Government Over Saramacca River Fish Die-Off

Parliamentarians in Suriname’s National Assembly have criticised Minister Patrick Brunings of Oil, Gas and Environment for a perceived lack of transparency and slow progress in investigating the massive fish mortality recorded in the Saramacca River. BEP faction leader Ronnie Asabina demanded that the government disclose the investigation’s findings promptly and hold any parties responsible for illegal discharges criminally liable, warning that the die‑off threatens the livelihoods and health of riverside villages that depend on fish and other river products.

Lawmakers noted that, more than a month after the first reports, no definitive cause has been identified and no official report has been released. Samples have been sent to France for advanced analysis because Suriname lacks the necessary laboratory facilities. The ministers’ absence from the parliamentary session and previous statements via the media have further fueled calls for a national response plan to address the emerging ecological and humanitarian risk.