PARAMARIBO - Justice and Police Minister Harish Monorath van Justitie en Politie had to face the music in parliament last Thursday over his revelation that local entrepreneur Jean ‘Saya’ Mixon is currently one of his advisors.

The controversial entrepreneur has repeatedly been linked to dubious practices which he has repeatedly denied. The minister was mainly criticized by coalition partners who pressured him into distancing himself from his own controversial statement. Home Affairs Minister Marinus Bee came to his colleague’s defense by stating that there is no formal employment record of Saya. Minister Monorath and several members of the ABOP faction tried to create the impression that it was nothing serious. But the factions of the NDP and the NPS demanded that the minister had to distance himself from his own statement. “Especially due to the fact that this is about a person who has a questionable conduct. You must staat far away from that”, said MP Jerrel Pawiroredjo, leader of the NPS faction in parliament.
The minister who is also a member of the ABOP and his fellow party members emphasized that the personal advisor would in no way be facilitated in the government. Ronnie Brunswijk, deputy chairman of parliament and chairman of ABOP, claimed that “there is nothing wrong with the relationship between the minister of Justice and the controversial entrepreneur”. He nevertheless asked the minister to tread carefully. “I want to make clear that the person in question is not an advisor as is defined by law”, said minister Monorath.