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Saramacca River essential for local communities:

Water from the river still off-limits

PARAMARIBO - The people who live near the contaminated Saramacca River are still living in uncertainty. They receive food parcels from time to time but...

Times of Suriname

want to return to a situation where they can go fishing and hunting again. The river plays an essential role in their daily life. MP Ronnie Asabina (BEP) recently pointed out that the government still has to indicate if it is safe to use the water from the river again and who will be held accountable for the contamination. Some of the communities still are not connected to the water distribution network of the (SWM). As long as the local communities can’t use the water from the river they will keep facing practical problems every day. MP Asabina therefore wants to know what kind of measures the government is taking to lend a helping hand to the communities that are dependent on the river. It was announced that Grassalco would be held accountable for the contamination. MP Asabina wants to know the legal status of the announcement. He also wants to know why the report from the National Environment Authority (NMA) still has not been shared with the local communities. “Parliament must also receive all of the information regarding the results”, said MP Asabina.