PARAMARIBO - MP Iona Edwards (NDP) once again criticized the fact that huge parcels of land that are located in the areas in Kabalebo where Indigenous...

communities live have been allocated to a third party. She urged the government to keep its promises and to reclaim the land that was allocated in the south western part of Suriname. MP Edwards claimed that there are reports which indicate that the Mennonites have obtained the land via a Surinamese middleman and that they plan on using the land for agricultural purposes. She pointed out that this contradicts the previous statements of the president who had assured that there was no deforestation going on in the hinterland. MP Edwards also made it clear that the residents of Kabalebo strongly object to the arrival of the outsiders and their plans. She also criticized the fact that land was located although the local communities were not consulted. “It is unacceptable to allocated land that belongs to the Indigenous communities,” said MP Edwards who reminded the government that it has previously announced that between 300,000 to 400,000 hectares of land that had been allocated via the Ministry of Agriculture would be reclaimed. “This still has not happens. As a matter of fact contracts were closed with firms that facilitate the Mennonites possibly also in the Kabalebo area.” MP Edwards urged the government to establish infrastructure in Kabalebo because a road is needed to connect Apoera and Nickerie in order to achieve sustainable development in that area.