King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, arrived here at the state of a three-day state visit that officials here signal efforts to improve the socio-economic and political relationship with the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.
The King, who personally landed the Dutch government plane safely at Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport, is being accompanied by his wife, Queen Máxima and a broadly composed Dutch business delegation representing 15 companies and institutions involved in businesses from hydraulic engineering and infrastructure to health technology, logistics, agriculture, and innovation.
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his wife, Queen Máxima arrive in Suriname at the start of a three-day state visit.
‘Well, good evening. I am very happy that it has finally happened,’ said Willem-Alexander on his arrival.
The state visit begins Monday with a reception at the Presidential Palace by President Jennifer Greeling-Simons, followed by a bi-lateral meeting between the two heads of state.
A statement here said that the 15 participating companies ‘represent the most important pillars of the Dutch economy, with clear starting points for cooperation with Suriname’.
During his three day visit, the Dutch King is expected to confront the issue of reparation for the slave trade.
He has in the past has apologised for his country’s historical involvement in slavery and his royal family’s role, but neither he nor the government have directly offered financial reparations to descendants.
Numerous Surinamese and Dutch-Afro-Surinamese organizations have consistently demanded reparations from the Netherlands for its historical role in slavery. These groups argue that the official apologies offered by the Dutch government are insufficient without tangible financial and social compensation.