which is located in the  Monseigneur Wulfinghstraat and the issues surrounding the maintenance of historical buildings in the inner city of Paramaribo. Reports indicate that the bishop asked the head of state for an exemption of value added tax and other taxes in order to lower costs for the ongoing renovation projects. According to Bishop Choennie, the president is currently working on an integral plan for the inner city and that she expects to receive a report from the presidential committee within the next two weeks. The recommendations in this report must result in legislation or a state decree to enable the government to lend a helping hand to the private owners of historical buildings. Bishop Choennie explained that the historical buildings are the face of the inner city. He also pointed out that the churches and in particular the Roman Catholic Church own most of the historical buildings which are labeled as monuments. “If the government makes it obligatory for us to preserve the buildings, it is only logical that the government must also pitch in,” said Bishop Choennie. The plan of the  president is aimed at providing loans at zero percent interest for restoration of the front of the buildings and at a  low interest for the restoration of the rest of the buildings. The bishop made it clear that he supports this vision of the president. “The lrettier it is, the more people it will attract. The inner city must become a place where people can go for a stroll and to relax,” said Bishop Choennie. The restauration of monuments with an A status such as the unique wooden cathedral is a huge challenge.  Bishop Choennie explained that there is very little to no income and that there are also other challenges such as  fire hazards, parking issues and other practical limits. “Wooden constructions are less attractive to companies. The lack of parking space poses a huge handicap for commercial use and the buildings often provide much inconvenience with their small stairs and shutters. All of this makes it that more difficult to install modern facilities such as airconditioning,” said Bishop Choennie who added that the structural collaboration between the government and private owners is necessary to preserve the inner city.