PARAMARIBO – Suriname’s top law enforcement official has formally enacted a new schedule of fixed fines for common environmental violations, aiming to crack down on unsustainable practices that damage public spaces and community health.
Starting immediately, anyone caught dumping waste illegally or failing to maintain their private land faces penalties ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 Surinamese dollars (SRD), according to the official order signed by Prosecutor General Garcia Paragsingh on September 15. The new fine schedule codifies penalties for violations already listed in the Police Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Law, bringing clarity and consistent enforcement to environmental regulation.
Penalty amounts are scaled based on the severity of each offense. For illegal dumping, the fine increases with the volume of waste found on site, while fines for unmaintained private land are tied to the size of the plot, both falling within the 1,000 to 10,000 SRD bracket. A flat 1,000 SRD fine applies to two separate offenses: failing to maintain the roadside verge adjacent to a private property, and burning household or garden waste. A higher fixed fine of 3,500 SRD is set for leaving abandoned vehicles, scrapped vehicle parts, or other obstructions on public road verges.
With the official signing of the fine schedule, all penalty amounts are now formally enforceable. The Public Prosecution Service of Suriname has issued a public call for all residents to abide by the new regulations, emphasizing that collective compliance is critical to building a clean, healthy, and safe living environment for all communities. The full text of the approved fine schedule is available for public review on the Public Prosecution Service’s official website.