Amafo: “No time for trivial matters”

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Alice Amafo, chairwoman of the People’s Party for Renewal and Democracy (VVD), says she has no time for trivial matters. This is her response to criticism from the BEP, which claims that she is attempting to make a political comeback. Amafo fell into disfavor at the time when it was alleged that she celebrated her birthday at the expense of the state, a claim she has repeatedly denied.
She says there are issues in the country that need to be resolved, and she does not feel the need to constantly respond to negative criticism regarding her tenure as minister. According to her, the BEP should instead focus on working for all Surinamese people, as the country urgently needs to continue its development. In the program Sranan Tori on ATV, the politician stated that many things have gone wrong in the country since independence. The BEP aims to bring about change, Amafo said.
According to her, there is ongoing structural economic discrimination affecting the people, leading to persistent poverty. She wants to talk with other leaders about this issue, rather than engaging in discussions that have nothing to do with the country’s development. The people must now realize that, for years, two political groups, namely the NDP and the New Front, have had the leadership of the country.
Amafo believes that they have not improved the country, and her party wants to break with that. According to her, those parties have millionaires who keep getting richer, while the people grow poorer. The people, Amafo argues, must choose a party with the right plan and integrity. She seeks to introduce a people-centered politics, where the population genuinely progresses. “It’s unacceptable for a country with so much wealth to have so much poverty,” she stated.
In 2020, Amafo received only 84 votes. She said that the people did not understand her message at the time and opted for the millionaires. It was also during the COVID-19 period, which made it difficult for her to communicate with the public.
“Anyone who is struggling is welcome at the VVD. As long as you are Surinamese, you are needed to join the fight,” said Amafo. She emphasized that it remains to be seen what will happen in 2025. “The people will decide the fate of the VVD.”