PARAMARIBO – Former MP Henk Aviankoi (VHP) evidently received about SRD 165.000 worth of fuel at the Ministry of Public Works although he was not entitled to get fuel at the taxpayers' expense.

The new minister of Public Works, Stephan Tsang, made this revelation at the discussion of the national budget 2025. Although the minister who is also a former MP did not mention any names, he referred to the legislator from the VHP who is currently the director of a hospital and this profile only fits one person namely Aviankoi. Minister Tsang also revealed that multiple legislators went to the Public Works Ministry to fill their fuel tanks at the taxpayers' expense even though they already received a staggering fuel allowance. “I look forward to options aimed at sending all these legislators the fuel bills. Stealing must not go unpunished,” said Minister Tsang who has already sent a list with the names of the MPs who had received free fuel to parliament. But parliament wants to keep this list confidential. The documents will not be published on the website of parliament while foreign parliaments do not hesitate when it comes to keeping things transparent. Despite the fact that parliament wants to keep this list hush hush, several legislators and government officials shared the information anonymously. Scores of people were also shocked to find out that the former deputy chairwoman of the State Council, Urmila Ramlagansing, also received fuel at the taxpayers’ expense. Minister Tsang revealed that she even had the fuel tanks of two different cars filled while vital services such as the police force and the fire department repeatedly complained about fuel shortages.