In a significant move to strengthen its correctional system, Suriname has formally sworn in 197 new penitentiary officers during an official ceremony held on Friday. The recruits were appointed as ‘fourth-class penitentiary officers’ and simultaneously sworn in as special police officers, marking one of the largest single expansions of personnel in the country’s prison system.
The ceremony was attended by Justice and Police Minister Harish Monorath and Attorney General Garcia Paragsingh, who presided over the oath-taking ritual. According to official statements, this substantial personnel infusion aligns with the government’s strategic policy to enhance security, maintain order, and strengthen legal certainty within Suriname’s correctional facilities.
KPA Corps Chief Joyce Pané-Alfaisi emphasized during her address that integrity, duty consciousness, collaboration, and confidentiality represent indispensable core values within penitentiary institutions and detention centers. She explicitly stated that violations of these professional standards would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Attorney General Paragsingh underscored that the sworn oath constitutes more than mere formality—it represents a substantial responsibility within the criminal justice process. She noted that the professional conduct of correctional officers directly influences public confidence in both the corps and the rule of law.
Gideon Wielingen, Chairman of the Suriname Penitentiary Officers Union, revealed that the new officers completed an intensive eighteen-month training program. He urged the newly appointed personnel to execute their duties with dedication and a strong sense of responsibility.
Minister Monorath characterized the ceremony as a ‘harvest festival,’ indicating that the rigorous training had instilled discipline, justice, and duty consciousness—qualities that society would now benefit from. The minister emphasized that this expansion resulted from targeted investments in human capital and ongoing professionalization within the prison system.
The government continues to invest in reducing understaffing and workload pressure within the KPA, with parallel plans developing for a new headquarters facility in Paramaribo. Following a collective prayer moment, the recruits officially took their oaths, with the top three training graduates receiving special recognition from ministry officials.
This massive injection of nearly two hundred officers provides Suriname’s correctional system with substantial operational reinforcement, potentially transforming institutional capacity and service delivery within the nation’s law enforcement infrastructure.