Rubio, who paid a quick visit to Suriname, received a warm welcome at the Johan Adolf Pengelairport by Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Collaboration  Minister  Albert Ramdin before holding a joint  press conference with President Chandrikapersad Santokhi. Rubio acknowledged that Suriname faced economic challenges, but claimed that it has already achieved stability. According to Rubio, the focus is currently on further strengthening this stability and giving sustainable prosperity a boost. Rubio emphasized that economic growth requires patience and careful planning but that it would provide a unique opportunity to lay a solid foundation for the future. “Most countries, when they experience growth in a mineral sector or in the energy sector, they often don’t plan for it.  They plan for generating the revenue, but they don’t plan how that revenue is going to benefit the people.  And you have taken the time, and your government has taken the time and put in the time, to construct a plan so that these things aren’t just going to generate revenue; they’re going to generate prosperity; they’re going to generate opportunity. That is the role of government.  That is the role of forward thinking.  That is the role of planning for the future.  And you’re doing that, and you’re doing it in a way that, if done correctly and sustained, you stay on this path, you’re going to have a country that’s going to transform in this generation, and it’s going to mean something extraordinary for future generations.  And we just want to be a partner,” said Rubio who emphasized the importance of security, stability, and prosperity of the Caribbean region. “We believe it is in our national interest to have a Caribbean region that is safe and stable and prosperous, and you’re at the vanguard of that in what you are doing.”