Suriname president weighs future of justice minister Monorath over telecoms affair

PARAMARIBO, Suriname. Suriname's President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons has yet to decide whether Minister of Justice and Security Harish Monorath will keep his place in the cabinet.

Speaking at a news conference on Monday on the state of security in the country, the president said she would decide on his future only after talks with him.

Monorath's position has come under scrutiny partly over a matter at the Telecommunications Authority of Suriname (TAS), where he chaired the Supervisory Board. The issue concerns the employment contract of a former TAS director and Monorath's role in it. A criminal complaint has been filed with the Attorney General, and the president has already described the complaint as serious.

Talks continue

Previen Sewnath, director of communications at the President's Cabinet, confirmed that talks took place on Tuesday and will continue on Thursday.

Ronnie Brunswijk, chairman of the General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP) and a former vice president, said documents were presented at the meeting to show that the disputed actions at TAS were carried out on the instructions of the political leadership at the time.

He said the papers included correspondence from the cabinet of the then president and vice president, and signed proposals for carrying out specific tasks. According to Brunswijk, the accusations against Monorath were refuted at the meeting.

He said the president indicated she would study the documents before the talks resume.

The government came to office on July 16, 2025.