2nd Suriname Model United Nations Event, Saturday, August 28, 2021

October 25, 2021

UNDP Resident Representative for Guyana and Suriname, Mr. Jairo Valverde Bermudez on the Zoom meeting

The 2nd Suriname Model United Nations (SUMUN) was held on Saturday August 28, 2021.The first event was held in 2019 and this second edition was planned for 2020 but due to the COVID-19 pandemic the event was postponed.

The SUMUN is an initiative of the Rotary Club Paramaribo and is held in partnership with the Anton de Kom University of Suriname and UNDP CO Suriname.

Among the distinguished speakers at the Official Opening event were H.E. Amb. Albert Ramdin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation; Ms. Ruth de Miranda, Director, representing ECOSOC of the United Nations, Mrs. Nicole Ma-Ajong Tjin A Djie, Past President Rotary Club Paramaribo; Dr. Shanti Venetiaan, Chairperson of the Board of the Anton de Kom University; Mr Jairo Valverde Bermudez, UNDP Resident Representative for Guyana and Suriname, and Mr. Patrick Brunings, Chairperson of SUMUN Board. The event also included 40 youth delegates.

During his remarks, Mr. Jairo Valverde Bermudez, acknowledged the historical bond between the Rotary Club and UNDP that exists globally and also recognized the strong collaboration between Rotary and UNDP in Suriname. Mr. Bermudez was happy to see the event now taking place and noted that UNDP supported the first Suriname Model United Nations event organized by the Rotary Club in 2019 and that UNDP continues a strong engagement through information sharing and attendance at the SUMUN preparatory activities in 2020 and 2021 leading towards this second SUMUN event.

H.E. Amb. Albert Ramdin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation, during the Zoom meeting

Mr. Valverde Bermudez continued to stress that Climate Change, which was the theme of this event, is real and forms a significant threat to Suriname given its extensive system of waterways, defined wet seasons and low lying coastal areas, and exemplified by the impacts of the recent flood events.

Mr. Bermudez reiterated that he had the privilege of meeting three delegates of SUMUN to hear directly from them on their views on climate change, environmental conservation and other global and local development issues on the occasion of the Virtual Mission to Suriname from Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations and UNDP’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Mr. Luis Felipe Lopez-Calva.

Mr. Valverde Bermudez applauded the interest of the youth on the subject of climate change and encourage the youth to continue to voice their views and to demonstrate their willingness to take an active role and position to address climate as it will affect their future.

Mr. Valverde Bermudez closed his remarks by encouraging SUMUN and the youth to continue their efforts and to adopt innovative approaches and means to address climate change and extend UNDP’s partnership and or collaboration.