They made it clear that the people must also have a say in the matter especially during the decision-making phase. “We want the government to confirm on paper that it has cancelled the Chinalco deal. After it has done that it must consult all of the important groups so that a new deal which has the approval of the hinterland residents and the rest of the nation can be closed,” said the entire collective that added that the current deal would have a  devastating impact on the local communities as well as the environment. 

Hesdy Ommen from Fiti Makandra who spoke on behalf of the tribal communities explained that there is a lack of transparency regarding the plans of Chinalco. “We live in these areas and are familiar with the issues. We love the land and we preserve the forest. A multinational can't just show up out of the blue and take over without our involvement,” said Ommen. The collective has one clear message for the Santokhi administration: “Talk to the people and listen to them. We will not accept this.”

Jurists also sounded the alarm over the legal implications that would be the result of the current deal. Attorney-at-law Antoon Karg explained that the law clearly states that the rights of hinterland communities must be respected but that the current deal raises a lot of questions about the intentions of the current administration. He pointed out that the tax exemptions that will be given without a valid reason will also have a negative impact on the nation’s economy. The Association of the Surinamese Business Community and the General Surinamese Manufacturers Association fear that tax benefits for this multinational would create unfair competition.

The deputy chairman of the C-47 labor federation, Claudette Etnel, slammed the government for the lack of transparency regarding the job opportunities and labor requirements that would be part of the current deal. “We do not want a repeat of the Green Heart disaster where laborers were left empty-handed. There is no guarantee that the Surinamese people will benefit from this deal,” said Etnel. Meanwhile parliament has decided to put the discussion of the Chinalco deal on hold and to send it back to the Santokhi administration. “That is not enough. We find it important for the government to terminate the current deal because it is unacceptable. This is not only about the right of the Indigenous people or protection of the environment but this is also about the future of Suriname,” said  Cylene France who is a member of the Association of Indigenous Village Chiefs in Suriname (VIDS).