Paramaribo – May 18, 2025: President Chandrikapersad Santokhi officially launched the ‘Royalty’s Voor Iedereen’ (RVI) program last week, marking a “historic step” in sharing Suriname’s future oil wealth directly with its people.
The program ensures that every Surinamese citizen born before January 1, 2025, will receive a financial share of future oil royalties from Block 58.
“Enough with the poverty! This money you’re receiving now is from just one source, Block 58. Second source is also coming. Whatever the second source may be, the third source or the fourth source, you will benefit enough from those sources that we Surinamese will always live in prosperity. ” President Santokhi declared at the launch event.
The RVI initiative, rooted in Article 41 of the Surinamese Constitution, which affirms that natural resources belong to the nation, is designed to promote inclusive development. Once oil revenues begin flowing in 2028, 40% of annual royalties will be allocated to registered citizens. The total benefit per person is set at US$1,275 with an additional US$150 incentive for those who defer withdrawals until the full amount is reached.
Early access is also available. Elderly and disabled citizens may begin receiving up to US$750 (in SRD) before royalties commence. Citizens aged 80 and over will be the first to benefit.
At the event, a 90-year-old Surinamese woman shared her joy: “I’m really happy witnessing the public already benefiting from the oil revenues.”
While the announcement was met with applause, it also raised important questions. Only Surinamese citizens are eligible, leaving out many people of Surinamese descent who hold only Dutch passports. For a country with deep historical and familial ties to the Netherlands, this exclusion may spark broader conversations about belonging and identity.
The development of the RVI program was guided by a national committee and benefited from the technical expertise of international advisors, including Lazard, an investment bank involved in structuring the initiative’s financial framework.
Registration for the RVI is now open through the official government platform. As the country prepares for oil production, the program is poised to become a defining feature of how resource wealth is distributed, raising both hopes and questions about inclusion and national belonging.
