spokesman of the National Democratic Party (NDP) after it was announced that Edward Belfort who was on the 50th spot on the list of candidates from the NDP. “The NDP will have to head into the elections of may 25th with 50 candidates for parliament,” said Panka who is also a former legislator. Panka pointed out that the death of Belfort came as a shock to the NDP even though he had only been a member of the party for a very short time. “The NDP is shocked by the sudden passing of Belfort, who was a former minister of Justice and Police, a member of parliament and a candidate on our list. His commitment and dedication for the prosperity of Suriname are unforgettable. On behalf of the NDP and its chairwoman  Jenny Simons we offer our condolences to his family, friends and loved ones.   Belfort was a valued member of the NDP and his passing leaves us with a empty spot. May he rest in peace,” said NDP.  Edward Ciriel Jeffry Belfort who was born in August 1965) was a Surinamese  politician. He was the minister of Justice and Police from  2012 until 2015. He had been a member of parliament since 2015. He was a legislator for the ABOP but after 2020 he regularly criticized the ruling coalition which the ABOP is also a part of.  In February 2025 Belfort joined the NDP and the NDP placed him on the 50th spot on their list of candidates for parliament.