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DOE President Steven Alfaisi recently attended the Rotary International Conference in Singapore: Sharing HopeRotarians from all over the world come together to discuss various topics, organizations and their goals. Besides attending conferences, Alfaisi also aims to position itself in Singapore and make connections in areas such as multi-year development planning, education and innovation, economy, racial integration, anti-corruption, environmental management, spatial planning and public housing. This is because Singapore is one of the leaders and role models in these areas.
The conference discussed cooperation in the areas of world peace, poverty reduction, global health, climate change, polio eradication and community development. One of the notable keynote speakers at the conference was Graca Machel, the widow of former South African President Nelson Mandela and former Minister of Education and Culture of Mozambique. About ten Surinamese Rotarians attended the conference.
According to Alfaisi, some facts about Singapore and a brief comparison with Suriname give the following picture. Singapore has an area of about 719 square kilometers, almost no commercial natural resources, almost zero forests, a multi-ethnic population of about 6 million, and a strategic location on the South China Sea. On the other hand, Suriname has an area of 163,820 square kilometers, 93% of which is forests, and is rich in natural resources. Singapore became independent from Malaysia in 1965, 10 years earlier than Suriname.
Despite a complete lack of natural resources, Singapore has grown to a country with a “real GDP” of about $400 billion, while Suriname’s “real GDP” in 2023 is about $4.1 billion. Singapore’s economy is over 75% 25% from services (port facilities and financial services, etc.) and 25% from industry. The country has an AAA credit rating from all rating agencies and is one of the cleanest countries in the world, with very low to almost no crime rates. In Transparency International’s 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, Singapore is ranked 5th among the world’s least corrupt countries, and Suriname is ranked 87th.
The museum records the history and presents the future of Singapore.
Alfahi met with a composite team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The team consisted of Deputy Director-General Dinesh Sathisan, Deputy Director Lucien Hong and Country Officer for the Americas Yeo Zi Xin. He also spoke with a consultant responsible for development planning, monitoring and management. Daniel Seah visited the contemporary Urban Redevelopment Authority Museum. This museum showcases the history, as well as the implementation of spatial planning and plans for the future. This includes all departmental plans that must fit in with Singapore’s multi-year master development plan.
Both conversations clearly highlighted the key to Singapore’s success: good, professional anti-corruption governance by leaders with a vision for the future. They emulate other countries and companies, and refine and apply those insights and strategies. This is also facilitated by serious policies on corruption and crime and enforcement of applicable legislation.
“I am impressed by their vision and capabilities in long-term planning and how they consistently achieve long-term goals in almost all areas by implementing short-term and medium-term plans. The country already has a vision that by 2050 the country must be liveable, sustainable and resilient, which is incorporated into multi-year plans in all sectors such as education. I am very happy that they have made a commitment to support Suriname in developing its capacity for long-term sustainable development planning,” said Alfesi.
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