Matta, Suriname Explained

Official Name:Matta
Other Name:Korhopa
Settlement Type:Village
Pushpin Map:Suriname
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Mapsize:300
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Suriname
Subdivision Name1:Para District
Subdivision Type2:Resort
Subdivision Name2:Zuid
Leader Title:Captain
Leader Name:Wendeline Sabajo
Population As Of:2022
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:500
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:AST
Utc Offset:-3
Coordinates:5.4525°N -55.3228°W

Matta (Lokono: Korhopa;[1] also Matta Karupa[2]) is an indigenous village of Lokono[1] Amerindians in the resort of Zuid in the Para District in Suriname. The village can be accessed from a road which branches off the Southern East-West Link.

Overview

Matta has a school and a clinic.[3] Matta is connected to the road network of Suriname, however the road was unpaved. In 2012, the government promised to pave the road.[4] In August 2018, the road was finally upgraded.[5] The economy of the village is mainly based on growing cassava.[2]

The village has been allocated a communal forest. In 2018, 203 hectares of the forest were awarded to[6] Creditmarket Investment Company NV who already started to clear the forest to make way for a planned industrial estate.[7]

Murder of Captain Karwofodi

On 13 August 2020, Captain Michael Karwofodi (67), the village chief, was murdered.[8] On 16 August, six teenagers aged 13 to 18 were arrested, and have confessed to the murder.[9] They were from the village and had been removed from the community house by the chief for misbehaving.[10] They confessed that they intended to rob Karwofodi of his money and juwelry.[11] On 21 June 2022, Raphael S, the leader of the group was sentenced to 12 years for murder and robbery.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dorpen en Dorpsbesturen. nl. 22 June 2022. Vereniging van inheemse dorpshoofden in Suriname.
  2. Web site: Nieuw dorpsbestuur Matta richt zich op ontwikkeling. Werkgroep Caraibische Letteren. 25 February 2021. nl .
  3. Web site: 2014. Planning Office Suriname - Districts. Planning Office Suriname. nl. 131. 25 February 2021.
  4. News: Geen geld voor asfaltering wegen Para. Dagblad De West. 25 February 2021. nl.
  5. News: Kapitein Matta blij met aanpak rijweg. Alles in SU. 25 February 2021. nl.
  6. News: Vids strijdt tegen ‘massale’ gronduitgifte. De Ware Tijd via Fathh. 25 February 2021. nl.
  7. News: Activiteiten ondernemer zet Matta onder druk. Dagblad Suriname. 25 February 2021. nl.
  8. News: Kapitein Matta dood aangetroffen in woning. Waterkant. 25 February 2021. nl.
  9. News: Zes tieners aangehouden voor moord op kapitein Matta. Waterkant. 25 February 2021. nl.
  10. News: Village of Matta Mourns the Murder of Okono-Arawak Chief Michael Karwofodi. Last Real Indian. 25 February 2021.
  11. News: Twaalf jaar celstraf geëist voor roofmoord kapitein Karwafodi . Suriname times . 6 April 2022 . nl . 22 June 2022.
  12. News: Twaalf jaar cel voor roofmoord kapitein Matta . Star Nieuws . 22 June 2022 . nl.