PARAMARIBO, Suriname, July 27, 2026 — Rosebel Gold Mines N.V. joined government representatives, traditional and community leaders, small-scale mining representatives, media organizations and other stakeholders on Monday for a national dialogue aimed at protecting lives, strengthening community safety and advancing responsible and sustainable mining in Suriname.
The event, National Dialogue: Safe Communities & Sustainable Mining, was organized by ATV and SCHTV together with Rosebel and held under the theme “Safety First, Stability Follows, Development Always.” It was the inaugural event of the National Dialogue Initiative, a public-interest platform created to bring government, communities, businesses, media and civil society together to discuss issues of national importance.
Opening the event, ATV Deputy Director Tachanna Brown described the dialogue as more than a public event, calling it the beginning of an important national conversation about safety, responsibility, sustainable development, and Suriname’s future. She emphasized that media organizations have a responsibility not only to inform the public but also to create spaces where meaningful discussions can lead to practical solutions.
Representing the Ministry of Natural Resources, Preciosa Simons highlighted the need to balance economic development with environmental stewardship and community well-being. She stressed that sustainable mining can only be achieved through collaboration among government, industry, communities, and other stakeholders, while ensuring that local communities continue to benefit from responsible resource development.
Speaking on behalf of Nieuw Koffiekamp, Captain Hermanus Schalwijk acknowledged Rosebel Gold Mines’ longstanding support for education, healthcare, infrastructure, and community development. At the same time, he called for stronger cooperation to address unauthorized access to industrial mining areas, improve safety, expand employment opportunities, and strengthen local economic development.
Speaking at the event, Rosebel Chief Executive Officer Joe Liu said the dialogue marked a new starting point for the company’s engagement with Surinamese society.
“Communication opens the door to understanding, and understanding builds the foundation of trust,” Liu said. “We will engage more openly and more frequently with all parts of Surinamese society, so that more people can truly understand Rosebel.”
Safety Must Come First
Liu said the event’s theme reflected Rosebel’s understanding of corporate responsibility and long-term development.
“Safety is where everything begins. Stability is the result of safety and responsibility. Development is our continuing commitment to the future,” he said.
Rosebel’s approach to safety covers employees, contractors, business partners, community members and anyone who may be affected by its operations. The company applies operational standards, procedures, training and security measures with one overriding purpose: protecting life.
“No production target, no deadline and no profit can ever be more important than safety,” Liu said. “No ounce of gold is worth a human life.”
Unauthorized access to active mining pits poses severe, sometimes fatal, risks. Such areas contain steep walls, loose rock, deep water, blasting activities and heavy equipment with limited visibility. People entering without authorization, training or personal protective equipment may not understand these hazards or be visible to equipment operators.
During the event, Rosebel’s security team presented information on the patterns and risks associated with unauthorized mine entry. According to data presented at the meeting, approximately 72% of identified unauthorized entrants came from urban areas rather than communities immediately surrounding the mine.
Rosebel said it had strengthened patrols, introduced continuous drone monitoring and increased cooperation with local security and community partners. However, the company emphasized that security measures alone cannot resolve the issue.
“Safety cannot be protected by a single company,” Liu said. “It requires responsibility from everyone.”
Building Safer Communities Together
Rosebel recognizes that unauthorized mining activities are connected to broader social and economic pressures, including unemployment, insufficient training and limited access to stable income.
Mavrick Boejoekoe, Director of Regional Development at the Ministry of Regional, also took part in the roundtable discussion with the communities, the Company, and small-scale miners. They discussed the urgent need to address the immediate dangers of entering active pits, as well as the root causes that lead people to take these risks.
Rosebel Community Relations representatives outlined the company’s work in safety awareness, local content, livelihood development, skills training, environmental rehabilitation and engagement with small-scale miners.
In 2025, Rosebel completed 86 community projects and engaged approximately 3,500 people through 85 meetings. The company has also supported scholarship programs, road and bridge improvements, education, sports, healthcare and other community priorities.
Rosebel also held its first formal dialogue with individuals involved in unauthorized mine entry in 2026. The company said direct engagement was necessary to better understand their concerns and identify safer and more sustainable alternatives.
Participants in the round-table discussion expressed different views on responsibility and the causes of unauthorized mine entry. Community representatives emphasized that mining companies, government and communities must work together. Representatives of small-scale miners argued that poverty and limited economic alternatives could not be separated from the safety problem.
Rosebel acknowledged those concerns while maintaining a clear position: unauthorized entry into active operational areas must stop because it exposes people to unacceptable danger.
The company said the long-term response should combine safety controls with skills development, employment pathways, local procurement, community investment and continued dialogue.
Creating Value for Suriname
Rosebel also presented its wider contribution to Suriname’s economy and development.
In 2025, the company created approximately $630 million in total socioeconomic value for Suriname. This included $363 million in direct contributions through taxes, royalties, dividends and other payments, as well as $267 million in indirect contributions through employee compensation, domestic procurement and other economic activities.
Rosebel employed 1,688 people, with employees from Brokopondo accounting for 29.4% of its workforce. Domestic procurement reached approximately $192 million, representing 54% of total procurement spending.
These figures demonstrate Rosebel’s commitment to ensuring that business growth generates national revenue, employment, business opportunities and wider social value.
“Rosebel is part of Suriname,” Liu said.
The company welcomed the open discussion at the National Dialogue and said it would continue working with government, traditional authorities, communities, the media and mining-sector participants to translate dialogue into practical action.
“We do not simply want to be a successful mine in Suriname,” Liu said. “We want to be a trusted company for Suriname.”
Safety First. Stability Follows. Development Always.
