WILLEMSTAD, PARAMARIBO – In Suriname, the Minister of Justice and Police Stuart Getrouw announced recently in parliament that the distribution and the preparation of fake news and announcements will be punishable. During the public meeting in the minister indicated that this will also be included in the draft law containing further amendments to the Criminal Code on “grooming”.

The minister indicates that false messages have recently been spread and that these have direct consequences for society. He refers to the false reporting about the coronavirus where it was stated that there were already two infected cases in Suriname.

This was also the case in Curaçao and it caused quite a bit of consternation among the people. There were reports on a radio station and in social media that there is a patient in Curaçao who is infected with the Coronavirus. This the Minister of Public Health Suzanne Camelia-Römer confirmed that this was fake news.

According to the post on social media, the infected patient is said to be a 48-year-old Chinese lady who has been detained at the airport.