Statements made by Stanley Raghoebarsing, Minister of Finance and Planning, regarding the increase in the government take and rising fuel prices have sparked confusion and concern among the public. During a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business, and International Cooperation (BIBIS), the minister claimed there was no increase in the government take, despite an official statement from his ministry on August 31, 2024, announcing that this tax had been raised by SRD 1.
This adjustment led to higher fuel prices: the price of unleaded fuel rose from SRD 9 to SRD 10, super unleaded increased from SRD 10 to SRD 11, and diesel went from SRD 8.50 to SRD 9.50. Despite these clear price hikes, the minister denied that a tax increase had been implemented.
When asked whether this situation aligned with the government’s promise of transparency, Raghoebarsing offered a surprising interpretation of the term. He stated that he adheres to a “different understanding of transparency,” asserting that it is unnecessary to share all policy details with the public.
The minister explained that only “essential information” is shared, while sensitive data is exclusively discussed with the president and the governor of the Central Bank of Suriname. This statement has raised questions among many about whether the government is adequately transparent about critical decisions that directly affect the public.
The minister also revealed that the individual who leaked information about the tax increase to the media will face sanctions once their identity is discovered. This underscores the strict control and confidentiality surrounding certain policy and financial decisions—a stance critics argue contradicts the government’s promises of openness and transparency.
