Times of Suriname Logo
Times of Suriname Logo

First female president of  Suriname:

Jennifer Simons writes history

PARAMARIBO – Suriname on Sunday  reached a historic milestone  when 71-year-old Jennifer Geerlings-Simons was elected president of the Republic of Suriname in parliament by acclamation.

Times of Suriname

34 of the 50 legislators voted in favor of Simons. Simons who is the first female chairperson of the National Democratic Party (NDP) will also become the first female president of Suriname. Gregory Rusland, chairman of the National Party Suriname (NPS) was elected vice president with the support of  34 voters. The victory of Simons signals a new chapter in the history of Suriname as the nation prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its independence. In het first speech the  president-elect emphasized national unity and servitude.  “I will use all of the knowledge and strength that I have to make our riches available,” said Simons who made it clear that she will do what is in the nation's best interest  and that she will take action as president on behalf of the entire nation.

Jennifer Geerlings-Simons started her political career in 1996 and was a member of parliament until the elections of May 2025. From 2010 until 2020 she was the chairwoman of parliament. She is officially the second woman who chaired Suriname’s parliament. Simons also has a degree in medicine and is a legislator and a doctor. She also studied epidemiology and leptospirose management. Gregory Rusland, the nation’s newly elected  vice president, has also been in politics for quite a while. He has been a legislator since 2015. From 2005 until 2010 he was the nation’s minister of Natural Resources. He has a degree in    Philosophy & Agronomy and was also a student at the Anton de Kom (Adek) State University. In his first speech as vice president-elect Rusland announced that he wanted to fulfill the role of mediator. “My task is clear: I will be the bridge between policy and execution, between president and the people, between ciy and district, between the present and the future,” said Rusland who pointed out that Suriname is at a historic crossroads with social, economic and institutional challenges. “I will keep working for the nation,” said outgoing President Chandrikapersad Santokhi. The official inauguration of Jennifer Simons and  Gregory Rusland is scheduled to take place in the Anthony Nesty Sports Hall on July 16th.

Gerelateerde Artikelen

SCHAKEN

Panchoe slaat toe na misstap koplopers

Eén moment van verslapping en de strijd om de titel ligt weer volledig open.

Buitenland

Doden en gewonden bij bomaanslagen in Nigeriaanse miljoenenstad Maiduguri

NIGERIA - Bij bomaanslagen in Nigeria zijn ten minste 23 mensen om het leven gekomen en meer dan honderd gewond geraakt.

VOETBAL

Totale schok: Marokko pakt alsnog winst Afrika Cup

Marokko heeft toch nog de Afrika Cup gewonnen. De CAF (Afrikaanse voetbalbond) heeft dinsdag besloten de eindstrijd met 3-0 toe te kennen aan de Marokkanen, na een staking van Senegal, dat oorspronkelijk dacht de finale te hebben gewonnen.

Engels

Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor embraced by Obama dies at 88

TOKYO - Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor Shigeaki Mori, who was hugged by former US president Barack Obama during his historic visit to the city a decade ago, has died at 88,...

Buitenland

Hoofd terrorismebestrijding van Trump stapt op

VS - Een hooggeplaatste Amerikaanse antiterreurverantwoordelijke heeft dinsdag zijn ontslag aangekondigd uit protest tegen de oorlog die de Verenigde Staten en Israël voeren tegen Iran.