Several foreign government officials visited Suriname to attend this joyous occasion. The military parade that was s geduld to start at 10 a.m. started nearly two and a half hours later. The public had to wait hours at the Independence Square. Prior to the parade President Jennifer Simons inspected the Honorary guard. The National Army, the Police Force Suriname (KPS), the Prison Guards’ Corps (KPA), members of the Support Service Suriname (BBS), customs officers, the Military Police, the Fire Department Suriname (KBS), the Navy and the Airforce participated in the parade. Several foreign representatives such as a music chapel and Stichting Triskontakten of the Suriname Tris Museum Zwijndrecht also joined the parade. The vehicles of the armed forces also passed by the Independence Square.

Anette Blomhof complained about the fact that the parade started late. She pointed out that it was scandalous for Suriname to let its foreign guests wait for hours. “I came here with my children to enjoy something beautiful but things did not go as planned. Is this the way we represent our country? I hope that the organization will learn from its mistakes and that things will go smoothly in the future,” said Bloemhof who expressed her disapproval that parliament held a special session on Independence Day and that the session also did not start on time.

John Weeks who brought his children to the nation’s capital to watch the parade returned home after having waited for ninety minutes. He deemed it regrettable that his children did not get to enjoy the parade and the parachuting show.