(De Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO — President Desi Bouterse has apologized to Parliament for remarks he made Friday last week in Parliament and had come across to Parliamentarians as grievous. He said that it had not been his attention to insult Parliamentarians and expressed the hope that his apologies would be accepted. The New Front-faction has accepted his apologies.
Bouterse also said he prefers to be among the people than in Parliament but when the constitution demands his presence he will be there. Yesterday, he referred Parliamentarians to a number of articles in the constitution that oblige the President to be present in Parliament. The President tabled this subject because his frequent absence from Parliamentary meetings has caused commotion both in and outside of Parliament.
And in spite of the bad economic situation in the country, the NDP supporters remain faithful to President Bouterse. Yesterday, thousands of fervent NDP-supporters and those of other coalition partners showed up on Independent Square to give the President moral support. Yesterday, he reacted on questions from Parliament in the first round of general political observations. It is the first time since his inauguration in September 2010 that Bouterse entered into a debate with Parliament. The developments in Parliament could be directly followed on the square on a gigantic screen.
DWT EDITORIAL
Yesterday, President Desi Bouterse showed himself a statesman by apologizing to Parliament for his insulting remarks a few days ago and the New Front faction demonstrated quality by accepting it. Parliamentarians of both the coalition and the opposition who asked for the microphone acted incorrectly by holding long speeches while this had not been agreed. It is at such moments that the skills and intentions of Parliamentarians are doubted. Matters regarding financing of projects that regard a number of Ministries should be put to the Ministers involved when the ministerial budgets are debated.
Bouterse has explained the need to take economic measures that should result in bridging the difficult times that lie ahead both in Parliament and to the crowd that had gathered outside on Independence Square. To have the masses gain even more belief in a better future, Ministers will have to explain the improvement programs in detail during the budget debates in order to gain trust.
