villages that are located along or near this river have expressed grave concern. Thursday Indigenous communities and tribal leaders of the villages that are located along the Saramacca River delivered a petition to parliament, demanding measures to protect their health, the environment and their way of life. “The mass fish die-off triggered the alarm,” said the village chiefs in the petition. The village chiefs of the Amerindian village of Pikin Poika, Joan van der Bosch, explained that the villages are dependent on the river because it provides them with water, food, income and also because it is tied to their culture and other livelihood. The local fishermen have been without income for the past couple of means as a result of the mass fish deaths. The Amerindians complained in the petition that they hardly receive any information from the authorization regarding this problem. When they do get some information, it only raises more questions. “Chairman, we want to ask the government how long this will go on. Is it allowed to poison us stealthily? Why aren’t emergency measures taken for our families? Why don’t we get clear information? Who is investigating this natural disaster in an independent and professional manner? Will we receive guarantees that this will not happen again tomorrow? Or in another river? Do we have to wait for dead fish to realize that our rivers are being poisoned? Do hinterland residents and traditional people no longer have rights in this country? The international law recognizes our collective rights, our rights to protection, healthcare, participation and our territory. Suriname has been convicted multiple times but nothing has been done,” said a paragraph from the petition.

Van der Bosch emphasized that the communities need clear answers regarding the cause and size of the problem which is why the Amerindians are asking for an independent and professional investigation. The Amerindians also want transparency with regards to the results of the investigation, compensation for the affected villages and effective measures to prevent this from happening again. But most of all they also want a say when it comes to decisions regarding the area where they have lived for decades. MP Rabin Parmessar (NDP) who received the petition on behalf of the chairman of parliament assured the villagers that the issue is being addressed by parliament as well as the government