Van Dijck owned a large parcel of ground close to Pengel's home which was rented to poor Afro and Indo-Surinamese people, and started to demand large rent increases.

Pengel started a protest movement against Van Dijck, and managed to raise enough money to buy the land.

[5] In 1955, the NPS, led by Pengel and the United Hindustani Party (VHP), the largest Hindu party led by Jagernath Lachmon, fashioned a coalition which successfully took power in 1958, and held it until 1967, allowing both the groups to understand each other.

The States General of the Netherlands was of the opinion that Pengel's government was spending too much money, and cut development aid.

Artificial rapids were constructed in the creek to give the impression of a bubble bath.