PARAMARIBO, Suriname, Nov 10, CMC – President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons is yet to make a decision regarding the future of the Minister of Justice and Security Harish Monorath in the Cabinet.
Speaking at a news conference here on Monday to discuss the state of security in the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country, the head of state told reporters that it is only after her discussions with Monorath, she will decide whether he retains his position in the government that came to office on July 16, 2025.
Media reports here say that Monorath’s position has come under scrutiny partly due to an issue surrounding the Telecommunications Authority of Suriname (TAS) with President Geerlings-Simons already describing the criminal complaint against Monorath, who was chairman of the Supervisory Board, in the TAS affair, as serious.
Director of Communications at the President’s Cabinet, Previen Sewnath, confirmed that the talks did take place on Tuesday and will continue on Thursday.
The chairman of the General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP), Ronnie Brunswijk, told Sun Web TV that documents had been presented during the meeting intended to demonstrate that the controversial actions at TAS were carried out on the instructions of the then-political leadership.
Brunswijk said that the accusations against Monorath were refuted during the meeting and that among the documents presented at the meeting were correspondence from the cabinet of the then president and vice president as well as signed proposals regarding the execution of specific tasks.
According to Brunswijk, these documents demonstrate that orders were indeed issued for actions that are now under discussion.
The ABOP chairman, a former vice president, said that President Geerlings-Simons indicated during the meeting that will study the documents before the meeting continues.
The issue involves the employment contract of a former TAS director nd the role Monorath played. A criminal complaint regarding the course of events has alread been filed with the Attorney General.
CMC/hg/ir/2026