PARAMARIBO – MP Reshma Mangre (VHP) is currently eyeing an executive position at Harbor Management. It is unclear if she expressed her interest in the position of deputy director or if  President Chandrikapersad Santokhi who is also the chairman of the  VHP asked her to exchange her seat in parliament for the deputy director’s seat at Harbor Management. People who hold executive positions at state companies reportedly get paid top dollar. Mangre will also receive money from the government for the rest of her life when she becomes a former legislator.

Jason Saiman, spokesman of the president, explained that no final decision has been made yet. “The  president wants experts to screen his decision first,” said  Saiman. One of the important factors is the new law on the double salaries of government officials. Although the law was passed about a month ago it does not apply to current legislators. This means that Mangre could hold on to her seat in parliament while working as a deputy director at a state company. But this would mean that she would be part of the legislative branch as well as the executive branch. Critics warned that this could lead to a conflict of interest. Meanwhile Mangre has already stepped down as chairwoman of the Association of Teachers (BvL) and the ALS. Citizens have strongly criticized this move that was made so close to the elections of May 2025. They made it clear that “now is not the time for such big changes.”