amending the Surinamese Citizenship Act thereby making it possible for these athletes to receive the Surinamese nationality under certain conditions without having to give up their other nationality. The amendment is aimed at removing the legal and administrative obstacles that athletes who want to represent Suriname internationally face. This means that in the future it will be easy for foreign soccer players with Surinamese roots to join Suriname’s national soccer team, Natio. MP Rabin Parmessar (NDP) sees the new law as an opportunity to renew interest in the national sport. He pointed out that “it is up to the Surinamese Soccer Association (SVB) to actually seize the opportunities”.

MP Asiskumar Gajadien (VHP) explained that Suriname must not only focus on bringing in talented athletes but that it must also focus on bringing in expertise and investments from abroad. MP Ronnie Brunswijk (ABOP) praised the political compromise that was finally reached.