Suriname President to attend inauguration of new Brazilian head of state

Suriname’s President Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokhi will attend the January 1 inauguration of Brazil’s new president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the Foreign Affairs, International Business, and International Cooperation Minister, Alebrt Ramdin has confirmed.

He told the Suriname-based online publication, Starnieuws that it is particularly important for the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country to be represented at the highest level and Santokhi will invite Lula to pay an official visit to Suriname to discuss the strategic relationship between Brazil, Guyana and Suriname.

Ramdin says the presidential delegation will travel to Brazil on New Year’s Day and will include the first lady Mellisa Santokhi-Seenacherry.

Heads of state from South America, the Caribbean and Europe, among others, will be present at the inauguration.

In October, Lula won Brazil’s election by a whisker, defeating incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in a closely-fought second-round vote.

Brazil’s election authority said Lula, a former union leader who was previously president between 2003 and 2010, secured 50.8 percent of the vote in Sunday’s election compared with 49.2 percent for Bolsonaro.

Brazil is one of the major economies in the world. President-elect Lula is also committed to the environment and climate.

President Chandrikapersad Santokhi and his delegation will return on January 2.

CMC/