Starting this Monday, residents of Marowijne district in Suriname no longer need to travel long distances to the capital Paramaribo to access judicial services, after the nation’s High Court of Justice formally launched a new periodic court site and legalization desk in Albina. This expansion marks the latest phase of the judiciary’s broader decentralization push, which previously brought local court services to Moengo and Brokopondo.
Under the new service model, court sessions will be held in Albina on the first Monday of every month. The court’s Legalization Department will also process official document authentication for local residents on the same recurring schedule. The core goal of this initiative is to close the gap between judicial institutions and rural communities, and expand access to legal services outside of Suriname’s capital, Paramaribo.
The new site was officially opened during a formal unveiling ceremony attended by key national and local stakeholders. Marowijne District Commissioner Marvin Vyent opened the event by expressing gratitude to the High Court of Justice and all partner stakeholders that made the expansion possible. He issued a clear call to local administrative officials, district council members, and community leaders to proactively spread awareness of the new services across all neighborhoods and villages in the area.
“It is our duty to inform every citizen, in every village and every street, that justice has been brought right to their doorstep. We must ensure people know these services are available here,” Vyent emphasized during his remarks. He added that low-barrier access to judicial care also plays a key role in supporting peace, public order, and broad social development across the entire Marowijne district.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Justice and Security Harish Monorath framed the new Albina site as a tangible outcome of strong cross-sector collaboration. He extended thanks to the President of the High Court of Justice, sitting judges, ministry staff, local district leadership, and council members for their combined work to prepare the new court location and bring the project to completion.
“Bringing justice close to home is a shared moral obligation for all of us,” Minister Monorath stated.
High Court President Iwan Rasoelbaks echoed this sentiment, reaffirming the judiciary’s commitment to expanding accessible justice across the country. “Wherever citizens live, work, raise their families, run businesses, and face legal challenges, judicial services must be visible and within reach,” Rasoelbaks said.
With the launch of the Albina site, Suriname’s judiciary now operates a new permanent periodic court location in the eastern region of the country, extending the benefits of decentralized legal services to thousands of previously underserved rural residents.