The chairman of the ABOP, Ronnie Brunswijk, has made it clear that his party will not support the ratification of the border protocol. Despite the objections of the chairman of the ABOP the head of state remains optimistic. “Of course everybody is allowed to have his or her own opinion. But we will keep talking to the people”, said President Simons. Simons who is also the chairperson of the ruling coalition party NDP pointed out that all of the parties involved can have their stance on the matter but that the consultation with communities in both sides of the border will be resumed. According to President Simons, the border protocol makes it possible to take the interests of the residents of the border region into account. The border protocol was inked in 2021 and has already been ratified by France. Suriname still has not formally approved the border protocol. Brunswijk claims that the border protocol does not sufficiently guarantee the rights of the Indigenous and tribal communities and that more clarity is therefore needed. President Simons pointed out that the document contains agreements aimed at collaboration between both countries and the establishment of joint structures in order to tackle border issues. She also pointed out that the border protocol must be made public.