Suriname’s National Assembly has taken significant steps toward judicial reform with the establishment of a special parliamentary committee mandated to engage with the Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding proposed legislation on the structure of the judiciary. The committee, appointed during Monday’s administrative session, aims to initiate dialogue with judicial authorities as early as this week.
Rabin Parmessar, leader of the National Democratic Party faction and appointed committee chair, currently oversees four distinct legislative proposals concerning judicial organization. Parmessar clarified that the decision to consult the Public Prosecutor’s Office stems from constitutional necessities rather than responding to Prosecutor General Garcia Paragsingh’s expressed concerns about the proposed laws. “This initiative reflects our shared commitment to properly establishing the judicial branch as a fundamental pillar of our separation of powers,” Parmessar stated.
Both Parmessar and fellow NDP legislator Ebu Jones emphasized that parliamentary members maintain constitutional authority to propose legislation, noting that the Prosecutor General’s public criticism through media channels occurred prematurely and without proper procedural context. Jones highlighted the established parliamentary process for legislative proposals, which involves formal submission, committee appointment during administrative sessions, and consultation with relevant stakeholders before public deliberation.
The current situation presents a unique circumstance where four separate committees—all chaired by Parmessar—will examine constitutional amendments and judicial restructuring proposals before they became public knowledge, somewhat accelerating the typical legislative timeline.
In parallel developments, the National Assembly established additional committees for other legislative matters, including a committee for the Sustainable Nature Management initiative led by NDP parliamentarian Rossellie Cotino. The government has identified this legislation as crucial for policy implementation, particularly following Suriname’s recent securing of $20 million in commitments from Nordic countries and international environmental institutions during the latest UN assembly. These funds remain contingent upon strengthening the legal framework for environmental conservation.
Notably, the proposed ban on online gambling has not yet received committee assignment as it was absent from the current session’s agenda. Jones has received assurances that this proposal will be prioritized during the next parliamentary administrative meeting.