PARAMARIBO – Dozens of residents from the Marowijne district recently expressed their concern regarding the rising numbers of dropouts. “There is no future. Most of the youths especially chose to drop out of school and to hang around the street corners. A growing number of youths are also starting to use drugs.” The residents are puzzled by the fact that the authorities are failing to act before it is too late.

A concerned citizen from Albina explained that officials do not keep an eye on the retail prices in the local stores, in which the retailers determine their own prices. “The same product is sold for a different price in every store”, said the resident who urged the Ministry of Economic Affairs to regularly inspect the retail stores in the Marowijne district. He claimed that the stores also sell products that have expired which poses a threat to the public health in the Marowijne district. The citizen explained that most of the senior citizens can’t read which is why there is a huge chance that they will consume these expired products.

The residents complained about the high electricity and water bills that they have to pay every month even though they are confronted with blackouts that last an entire day. They also complained about the dirty water that they received out of their taps. The residents hope that these problems will be addressed soon. “It is time for solutions. There was a time when tourists flocked to Albina but that is no longer the case because of all of these problems.”…[+]