Paramaribo, 22 April 2022 (TDI): Suriname is hosting the High-Level Security Conference on transnational organized crime in Paramaribo. The President of Suriname, Chan Santokhi, opened the two-day conference with his address.

In his opening remarks, he expressed Suriname’s intention to involve relevant actors at the national, regional, and international levels on security issues.

The High-Level Security Conference is a Surinamese initiative for countering security issues in the Americas. Meanwhile, a number of representatives from regional countries and international organizations joined to address transnational organized crime.

Representatives from the Organization of American States, European Union joined the conference. In addition, regional countries including Aruba, Barbados, Colombia, Canada, France, and El Salvador, among others, sent their representatives.

The conference provides a critical forum for multilateral policy formulation for addressing security threats. Furthermore, the discussions take place at both policy and operational levels.

President Chan Santokhi’s Address

President Chan Santokhi said that the conference involving all significant actors could result in effective cooperation to fight transnational organized crime.

He expressed that strategic and operational analysis is needed to effectively counter the transnational organized crime groups. These groups engage in the drug trade, human trafficking, and other crimes.

Likewise, he said that countries and organizations should be prepared to discuss the fundamental factors that threaten security. He also added that “…we have to be willing and committed to doing something about it, pragmatically in a creative and innovative way”.

He underlined the importance of a multidimensional approach to security. He proclaimed, “Safety and development are multifaceted and inextricably linked,”

Moreover, the head of state said that stability, peace, and a sustainable future are necessary for survival. “To achieve this, we will need to collectively address challenges arising from different threats,” He observed.

Major challenges facing the region include climate change, food production security, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the global, regional, and national economic decline due to changing supply chains of goods and capital.