Suriname MP admonishes Marrons for bad behaviour

(De Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – “The way you are behaving is not good. Brothers and sisters in the community who are behaving badly, you are putting us to shame. Marrons used to be respectful citizens; let us not forget that”. Yesterday, Parliamentarian André Misiekaba (MC/NDP) addressed these words in the Aucaner language to Marron youths who are damaging the reputation of this ethnic group with their behaviour and actions. They should keep in mind that Suriname is a civilized society. Misiekaba spoke at the start of the Parliamentary debates about the draft Development Plan 2011-2016. The politician, who is a member of the Aucaner Marron tribe himself, said he does not want to generalize, as there are numerous Marrons who are making a positive contribution to the country’s development, yet he felt the need to admonish the bad apples. His call came after a recent series of violent incidents in which Marron youths were involved and even lost their lives. The NDP-Parliamentarian called on people in the Marron community who think they need not have any respect for the police and can throw stones at police cars and take the law into their own hands, to give the appropriate judicial authorities room to do their jobs.