On Thursday, the Central Bank of Suriname (CBvS) received a newly formed Board of Commissioners (RvC), with seven members officially installed for a five-year mandate during a ceremony held at the President’s Cabinet. Finance and Planning Minister Adelien Wijnerman outlined the core mandate and long-term expectations for the new governing body in remarks following the appointment ceremony, as confirmed by Suriname’s Government Communication Service.
The seven appointed members of the new board are Silvano Tjong-Ahin, Glenn Gersie, Robbie Poetisi, Radjkoemar Kirpal, Dinesh Ramadhin, Saskia Walden, and Reina Raveles. A formal selection process for a board chair is still underway, with an announcement expected in the coming weeks.
Wijnerman emphasized that while the primary responsibility of the RvC remains oversight of the Central Bank’s daily operations and the safeguarding of sound fiscal and monetary policy, the board also carries a broader strategic role. She noted that close coordination between the CBvS and the Ministry of Finance is a non-negotiable foundation for consistent, stable economic governance across the country.
“Both the Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance hold monetary authority in Suriname,” Wijnerman explained. “This collaborative dynamic is critical to striking the right balance between fiscal policy, which covers government spending and taxation, and monetary policy, which regulates currency and interest rates.” Beyond its oversight duties, the board will also provide strategic advice and support to both the CBvS governor and the Finance Ministry, she added.
The minister also clarified the distinct role the Central Bank plays within Suriname’s broader financial ecosystem, differentiating it from the country’s commercial banking sector. Unlike commercial banks, which focus primarily on issuing loans and delivering retail banking services to individual consumers and private businesses, the CBvS is tasked with overseeing the entire banking industry and all registered financial institutions operating within national borders.
Additionally, the CBvS serves as Suriname’s key monetary liaison to the global financial community, facilitating ongoing cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other major international financial bodies. “The Central Bank’s core focus is on monetary stability, and it sets the regulatory standards that all commercial banks in the country must follow,” Wijnerman said.
Turning to Suriname’s current macroeconomic outlook, Wijnerman acknowledged that the country continues to grapple with significant structural challenges. While the minister confirmed that measurable progress has been made in recent economic stabilization efforts, she warned that volatile global developments continue to pose downside risks to the domestic economy.
“We have not yet crossed the finish line, but we are firmly on the right path,” Wijnerman stated. “Global shifts can still impact our economy, but as long as we maintain a constructive approach and all stakeholders contribute their part, I am confident we will overcome these hurdles.”