In a comprehensive address to the National Assembly on Friday, Assembly member Steven Reyme (A20) articulated the critical necessity for immediate judicial reform in Suriname. As a co-initiator of the legislative package, Reyme emphasized that the proposed reforms target the fundamental structure of the nation’s judicial system rather than individual personalities or power dynamics.
Reyme presented five compelling arguments for urgent judicial modernization. First, he highlighted the essential restoration of public trust, noting widespread perceptions of ‘class justice’ among citizens. “Without independent judges and equal rules for all, confidence will not return,” he asserted. Second, he stressed the economic imperative of legal certainty, particularly as Suriname develops its oil, gas, and tourism sectors, where predictable jurisprudence is prerequisite for foreign investment.
Third, Reyme addressed the critical need for protection against political influence—both actual and perceived—stating that even the appearance of interference undermines judicial integrity. Fourth, he pointed to institutional professionalization and capacity building within a judiciary struggling with resource shortages, outdated structures, and limited career advancement opportunities. Finally, he emphasized future-proof legal development through cassation and consistent legal interpretation.
The proposed reforms include constitutional amendments granting indigenous recognition as Suriname’s original inhabitants—a correction Reyme described as addressing historical omission rather than symbolic gesture. Other measures include appointing the Attorney General for life upon judicial advice, reducing the mandatory retirement age from 70 to 65 to encourage rejuvenation, and implementing fixed 30-day deadlines for judicial appointment recommendations to prevent delays.
Regarding the introduction of cassation and a supreme court, Reyme expressed personal preference for a domestic High Council while remaining open to regional alternatives if they enhance legal quality and accessibility. He concluded by emphasizing the package’s institutional focus: “This legislation requires trust not in persons, but in institutions. We bear responsibility to leave a judiciary stronger than ourselves.”