“Various acts of corruption were committed at the Ministry of Home Affairs  (BIZA) and  the minister was aware of these acts,”   Jermain Ligeon, deputy chairman of the union that represents the state employees at this ministry told Times of Suriname. Ligeon claimed that state employees who work at the ministry are assigned to perform labor at the party center of

 Pertjajah Luhur (PL) which is located at Beekhuizen. Home Affairs Minister Bronto Somohardjo is a high ranking official in the  PL party. The union strongly condemned these acts of corruption that are being committed at the ministry and made it clear that the ministry does not have a CBB office at Beekhuizen. Ten to twenty state employees have to work in the supermarket of the PL which is located in Beekhuizen. “They have to cook meals for people. That is unacceptable because these state employees are paid with money from the taxpayers,” said  Ligeon. The deputy chairman of the union also claimed that a certain state employee who is stationed at BIZA receives two salaries. “How is that possible?” Ligeon also claimed that several contracts were awarded to another high ranking official from the PL party. “There is no public call for tenders. All projects are handed directly to that certain somebody,” said Ligeon who added that the minister is aware of these shady practices. Ligeon is puzzled by the fact that no action is being taken. “When I previously revealed these issues surrounding  Somohardjo, BIZA treated me with rancour. I need a statement of employment but I can’t get it because of the minister. He is extorting me. This has never happened to me before,” said Ligeon. The management team at BIZA is allegedly also taking firm action against other union officials. It has reportedly frozen the salaries of union officials.