Paramaribo, March 31 – Chandrikapersad Santokhi, the former President of Suriname, has passed away at the age of 67, local media reported on Tuesday (Indian time). The cause of his death has not been immediately disclosed.
Santokhi, who served as President from 2020 to 2025, was also the leader of the Progressive Reform Party and had previously held the position of Minister of Justice in the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, recalling their personal relationship and Santokhi's role in strengthening bilateral ties between India and Suriname.
"I am deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of my friend and the former President of Suriname, Mr. Chandrikapersad Santokhi. This is not only a significant loss for Suriname, but also for the global Indian diaspora," PM Modi said in a post on X.
Reflecting on their interactions, the Prime Minister added, "I fondly recall my many meetings with him. His tireless service for Suriname and his efforts in strengthening India-Suriname relations were clearly evident in our interactions. He had a special fondness for Indian culture. He won the hearts of many when he took the oath in Sanskrit."
"I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Suriname in this hour of grief. Om Shanti," he added.
The Prime Minister also shared photographs from his previous meetings with the late leader.
Born in Lelydorp in the Wanica district of Suriname, Santokhi came from an Indo-Surinamese Hindu family and was the youngest among nine siblings. His grandparents had migrated from Bihar as indentured laborers in the 19th century.
His father worked at the harbor in Paramaribo, while his mother was employed as a shop assistant. Due to his early career in law enforcement, he earned the nickname 'Sheriff'.
As a leader of Indian origin in a country where nearly 27 per cent of the population traces its roots to Indian indentured laborers, Santokhi played a key role in deepening ties with India across sectors such as trade, energy, and culture.
He was conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman and had also attended the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas as a chief guest.
Of Indo-Surinamese heritage, Santokhi's oath-taking ceremony in 2020, delivered in Sanskrit – a first for a Surinamese President – symbolized the strong cultural connection with India and celebrated the country's significant Indian-origin population descended from 19th-century indentured laborers.