Suriname – the Dutch-speaking country on the northeastern coast of South America that is a member of the Caribbean Community regional bloc – has chosen a medical doctor to be its president.
This will be the nation’s first time electing a woman as its leader.
Dr Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, also a one-time parliamentary speaker, was sworn in on Wednesday in a ceremony attended by diplomats and representatives of neighbouring countries, including the vice-president of Venezuela.
The nation, located in South America but part of the Caribbean Community, joins Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and tiny Anguilla with female leaders.
It is the first time, observers say, that there have been so many women in leadership positions in the Caribbean, where they are also occupying roles as governors, governors general and ceremonial presidents.
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In Barbados, where Mia Mottley is prime minister, Sandra Mason serves as ceremonial president after the country broke with the British monarchy in November 2021 to become a republic.
In Trinidad and Tobago, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar led her party to victory in April, and the presidency is held by Christine Kangaloo. And in Dominica, the presidency is also held by a woman, Sylvanie Burton, who is also its first indigenous head of state.
Geerlings-Simons emerged as president of the former Dutch colony after none of the parties, including that of former president Chan Santokh, won the two-thirds majority in Parliament in the May 25 elections necessary to form the government.
She won the second-highest number of individual votes, after Santokh, who retained his legislative seat after winning the most individual votes.
Although he was vying to return as president, Sanktoh’s Progressive Reform Party could not overcome voters’ concerns about high inflation, corruption in the government and austerity measures imposed by the International Monetary Fund programme.
When the Progressive Reform Party nearly tied with the National Democratic Party, 17 votes to 18 votes, Geerlings-Simons and her National Democratic Party formed a deal with five other parties to install her as president. Geerlings-Simons had served as chairwoman of the party since 2024.
Carla Barnett, the secretary general of CARICOM, who attended the swearing-in, noted the historic significance of Geerlings-Simons’ indirect election by the National Assembly.
Ahead of the swearing-in, Barnett extended congratulations and said the Caribbean Community awaited her input.
“As we collectively navigate the complex challenges facing our region, including climate change, economic resilience, and sustainable development, your leadership will be crucial,” Barnett said.
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Suriname has been independent since 1975 and has seen two military coups. In recent years, the country has faced some difficult economic challenges but is expected to see a surge in revenues, similar to neighbouring Guyana, after discovering oil reserves.
Oil production is slated to begin in 2028.
On June 30, Suriname also became the first country in the Amazon region to receive malaria-free certification from the World Health Organization (WHO). This historic milestone follows nearly 70 years of commitment by the government and people of Suriname to eliminate the disease across its vast rainforests and diverse communities.
Geerlings-Simons’ rise to power has not gone unnoticed by those who closely follow the region, especially given that the military coups were supported by the NDP and its founder, former President Desiré “Desi” Bouterse.
Bouterse died last year on Christmas Eve while running from justice. The year after leaving office in 2020, Bouterse was convicted in the 1982 murders of 15 government critics, including journalists. The conviction was upheld in 2023, and Bouterse went into hiding. He died at the age of 79 as a fugitive.
Wednesday’s succession of power passed without incident.
Geerlings-Simons, 71, whose term runs until 2030, recognised the historical significance in her swearing-in speech.
“Because I am the first woman to hold this position, there will be additional pressure on the work I will do with the government,” she said as she pledged her government’s commitment to recovery.
She concluded her speech with a call for national unity, quoting the words of Surinamese poets Dobru and Shrinivási: “I would like to unite you as a nation, without this remaining a fairy tale.”
