And in a historic first for Suriname, Jennifer Simons has been elected as president of Suriname—the first woman to hold this position. At 71, the institution-minded Simons is perhaps the most seasoned pick ever to head NOAA. He became parliamentary speaker, a post he held for ten years, until 2020. Her election comes on the heels of the May 25 parliamentary election, in which her opposition National Democratic Party of the Maldives won 18 seats.
Having received more than 41,700 votes in the last election, Simons’ party placed second among the overall vote counts though third behind Chan Santokhi’s in the number of seats garnered. Nonetheless, her presidency was secured by a six-party accord only two days after the parliamentary showdown. To add to the drama, the tiny parliament unanimously confirmed Simons’ election, setting the stage for a remarkable new leadership in the nation’s history.
Simons’ inauguration is scheduled for July 16. Her work demonstrates that she is passionate about the youth space and providing a ladder to those who haven’t had the best of circumstances yet to reach the top. She stated, “I come into this office to serve, and I will use all my knowledge, strength and insight to make our wealth available to all of our people.”
National Party of Suriname (NPS) leader Gregory Rusland will take office as her vice president. They will guide Suriname through a vital juncture. The country’s set to go through a forecasted oil boom. This recent development bodes well and yet, more ominously, for the new administration and its team.
Simons’ election comes at a particularly competitive time. With the ruling party and its main opposition nearly tied for first place in the competition for legislative seats, the tone of the campaign has been electric. As she prepares to take office, Simons acknowledges the weight of her responsibilities: “I am very aware of the responsibility now placed on our shoulders, a responsibility compounded for me by the fact that I am the first woman to hold this office.”
As a medical doctor, Simons would be a refreshing and highly unusual addition to the presidency. We hope her leadership will redress this imbalance and ensure all Suriname’s citizens have equitable access to the resources and opportunity that should be their birthright.
