Surinamese Vice President Ronnie Brunswijk is not concerned about the criticism of the way in which he has recently shown off large amounts of gold in various videos on social media. In an interview he said that he understands that other people ‘no lob’ show’, but that he himself likes to show this to people.
“I’m not going to steal money from the government. They can accuse me of being a man disi abi gowtu. They can accuse me of that, ma ie no man teigi dati mi teki wan golu fu a Staat. Mi ne grudge gowtu, but I invested in gold and mi e kisi mi pikinpikin sani,” Brunswijk emphasizes.
The images are regularly posted on social media by the VP himself. The ABOP leader does not hesitate to indicate that the money generated from the gold will be used for the elections. According to Brunswijk, this concerns an investment in his party ABOP.
The country’s second man argued that his hobby as a former gold prospector is to work with the yellow precious metal. And although he transferred all his gold companies to his son in accordance with Suriname’s legal regulations shortly before his appointment as vice president, he says people should not forget that it was not the son but himself who invested millions in these companies.
“My son has not invested anything there. I invested there. Of course, as a VP I can no longer be physically present to say after my turn. I don’t spin anymore. I am no longer in that company, because my son is there. But I made that investment,” said the politician.
The VP once again emphasized that he has paid all taxes on the gold he received.
“Gold is a direct tax. The moment someone sells gold, the 7% is immediately gone. And when he starts exporting, it will be that same percentage again. So gowtu ie naf lon go pai tax. It is received immediately. Government e kisi immediately immediately,” said the vp.
