Deputy Prime Minister of The Netherlands Sigrid Kaag has arrived in Suriname to meet with that nation’s president, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, for discussions on an intended Dutch apologies for the slavery past. 

Kaag’s visit to Suriname comes as the Dutch government plans to formally apologise to the descendants of the enslaved Africans in its former colonies on Monday.

The Dutch plans became public knowledge some weeks ago, but were met with concerns around the process.

Santokhi had indicated last week that his government had still not been formally informed by The Netherlands about the apology. 

NOT A MATTER FOR GOVERNMENT ALONE

Santokhi said he had no objection to the former coloniser’s intention but that he believed the matter should have been discussed at a government level. 

Indicating that Monday should be considered a starting date for the process toward the formal expression of regret, he said the issue was not a matter for the government only and that the National Assembly, the National Reparations Commission of Suriname and interest groups of descendants of enslaved people would also be involved.

Santokhi, the current chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), said he has discussed the slavery and reparations issue with Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados as the issue of reparations has been on the CARICOM agenda for several years.

In the meantime, Surinamese and Dutch-based interest groups have reportedly been upset that the Dutch government has unilaterally set the date of December 19 and did not involve them in the decision-making process. 

Netherlands-based organisations filed a lawsuit against the Dutch state last week seeking to bar it from going ahead with its plan to issue a formal apology on Monday.