Hanafi Ramsaran

Minister of Welfare and Housing | Suriname

Uraiqit Hanafi Ramsaran was sworn in as Minister of Social Affairs and Housing in Suriname in 2022. Ramsaran is an entrepreneur. He is fluent in Javanese and Sarnami Hindustani among other languages and is a member of the political party, Pertajah Luhur (PL).  In July 2020, Ramsaran was one of two PL members to obtain a ministerial post in the Santokhi cabinet. Only July 16, he was sworn in as Minister of Social Affairs and Housing. The agreement with the ABOP with which the PL had worked together during the elections, to have Ramsaran hold this office for a year, was abandoned by APO leader Ronnie Brunswiik at the end of 2021, becase of his good relationship with PL leader Paul Somohardio.  In 2021, Ramsaran settled in Saramacca to support his party PL there.  Ramsaran transferred to the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Tourism on 13 December 2023, where he succeeded Albert Juhithana.