President Jennifer Geerling Simons and Vice President  Gregory Rusland made it clear that they have no doubts that the success of their administration requires the willingness of the entire nation to do the heavy lifting. In her maiden speech, President  Geerlings-Simons referred to the patriotic poems of   Shrinivási and Dobru to strengthen her message of national unity. “We are the shepperd of our brethren. In each phase that our country goes through we must make sure that our fellow country men can also develop themselves, that they also have opportunities and that they also feel good,” said President Geerlings-Simons who emphasized her intention to serve all of the nation’s ethnic groups and to involve all of them in the nation’s recovery process. The new administration hopes that the polarization that popped up during the election campaign of May 25th and the formation of the coalition will be reduced.  “Our history has brought us together. Our ancestors have been through so much to leave us this beautiful and rich country. we make the luck of Suriname together.” President Geerlings-Simons starts her term in office in a period that is filled with big challenges as Suriname faces serious financial deficits, a huge debt that puts a lot of pressure on the nation’s economy and other problems such as poverty and unemployment. She is aware of the tasks that rest on her shoulders and assured the nation that she will start addressing the most urgent problems.