VZCZCXRO8763
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHPO #0093/01 0462053
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 152053Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8067
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO 0958

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARAMARIBO 000093 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR - LLUFTIG 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KCRM NS
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT VENETIAAN'S GOVERNMENT FACING LOW 
APPROVAL RATINGS 
 
REF: (A) PARAMARIBO 038 (B) 05 PARAMARIBO 589 (C) 05 
 
PARAMARIBO 607 (D) PARAMARIBO 90 
 
PARAMARIBO 00000093  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: More than 100 days into his second 
consecutive term, approval ratings for President Venetiaan 
and his New Front plus coalition are down, with 64% of 
respondents disapproving of the government's performance, 
according to a recent public opinion poll.  Former military 
dictator and convicted narcotics trafficker Desi Bouterse's 
opposition National Democratic Party (NDP), which is the 
largest single political party, has gained popular support. 
Strife within the coalition, an aggressive opposition, and 
corruption scandals have all contributed to the 
government's woes. End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) The poll was conducted by IDOS, a respected 
independent polling group affiliated with Suriname's 
university, from January 4-6 among 504 people in Paramaribo 
where roughly half of Suriname's 492,829 inhabitants live. 
It revealed a Surinamese public decidedly dissatisfied with 
its leaders. The largest complaint, expressed by 78 percent 
of respondents, was that government policy lacks clarity. 
Only 14 percent of those polled claimed to be satisfied 
with the government's performance, while 62 percent 
indicated they were dissatisfied. Twenty-four percent were 
indifferent.  Seventy percent of the respondents claimed to 
have no confidence in the President or his cabinet. 
 
¶3. (U) The poll showed mounting criticism from the 
governing coalition's own supporters.  Eighteen percent of 
those who voted for the New Front in the 2005 elections, 
would vote for a different political party, if given the 
opportunity to vote today; more than nine percent of these 
voters said Bouterse's NDP would be their new choice. 
Twenty percent of respondents who voted for New Front in 
May 2005 elections would choose not to vote at all. 
 
¶4. (U) If elections were held today, 32 percent of 
respondents would vote for the NDP; 21 percent for the New 
Front; 10 percent for former President Wijdenbosch's VVV 
coalition; and 4 percent for the all-Maroon A-Combination, 
which is part of the New Front Plus.  Ten percent would 
vote for various other parties with 23 percent saying they 
would not vote at all. (Note: The next elections are 
scheduled for 2010. End Note.) 
 
¶5. (U) The survey also showed significant public 
displeasure in the government's domestic economic policies; 
63 percent complained that their own economic situation had 
gotten worse compared to six months before; 64 percent of 
those who saw their situation worsen see their situation 
worsening even more over the coming six months.  Only four 
percent said their economic situation was better than six 
months ago, while 33 percent said it was the same. 
 
¶6. (U) In other results of note, 85 percent of respondents 
disagreed with parliamentarian Sharmila Mangal-Mansaram's 
assessment that convicted narcotics trafficker and A- 
Combination National Assembly member Ronnie Brunswijk 
qualifies as a "freedom fighter" for his role in leading 
the rebel group Jungle Commando in the late 1980's.  Only 
nine percent of those polled think that former Minister of 
Trade and Industry Siegfried Gilds is innocent in the money 
laundering investigation against him (See ref A). A dismal 
four percent think that former Minister of Public Works 
Dewanand Balesar is innocent of the corruption charges he 
is facing. (See ref B). 
 
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COMMENT 
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¶7. (SBU) The eight party New Front Plus coalition 
government has yet to articulate its vision for Suriname 
and what it plans to accomplish during its term.  The 
macro-economic situation has improved, buildings are under 
construction everywhere in Paramaribo and several dynamic 
new ministers are busy formulating plans for tackling the 
country's myriad problems.  However, the failure to engage 
the public, the stumbles with the gas price hike (See ref 
C) and the preoccupation with intra-coalition politics have 
resulted in the public's loss of confidence. The opposition 
has seized on every misstep to make political points. (See 
ref D).  We question whether the President and Vice- 
President, aging political veterans, can develop the public 
relations savvy to convince the nation that their current 
course is the best course. 
 
PARAMARIBO 00000093  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
BARNES