San Juan.- Former Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi suddenly passed away this Monday at the age of 67 at the University Hospital of Paramaribo, where he was transported after feeling unwell, according to the country’s president, Jennifer Geerlings-Simons.
“Her many years of service in various public offices will be remembered,” the president declared on her social media.
Santokhi, who until now led the opposition, governed Suriname between 2020 and 2025 with the Progressive Reform Party (VHP, in Dutch) and also held the position of Minister of Justice between 2005 and 2010.
«The Government expresses its deepest condolences to the family, friends, party colleagues and all those affected by this loss. It wishes them strength and fortitude in these difficult times. May his soul rest in peace», expressed the Government of Suriname.
At the moment, the causes of his death are unknown.
For its part, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) expressed its condolences and stated that Santokhi, who held the position of president of the Caribbean organization between July and December 2022, represented his country with distinction at the forty-third conference of Heads of Government of Caricom held in Paramaribo.
“Santokhi firmly addressed issues related to the expansion of the list of professions to be included in the certificate of competence within the framework of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), the measures the bloc should take in relation to Haiti and the development of industrial policy, among others,” stated a statement from the organization.
The members of Caricom are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
«The community conveys its deepest condolences to the Government and people of the Republic of Suriname, to his wife and the rest of his family, as well as to his political colleagues. Caricom has lost a committed regionalist. May his soul rest in peace», concluded the community document.
Santokhi, elected president of Suriname in 2020, replaced former military man Desi Bouterse of the National Democratic Party (NDP), a position he held until last year when he ran in the May 2025 general elections for re-election, but lost to the coalition led by the NDP.
