Suriname has taken a significant step toward enhancing its administrative justice system with the formal installation of the Administrative Appeals Institute (Administratief Beroepsinstituut) on Monday. President Jennifer Simons presided over the inauguration ceremony, appointing distinguished public administration expert Eugène van der San as the institution’s inaugural chairman.
The newly established institute will serve as a specialized advisory body to the head of state regarding administrative appeal cases. Its mandate encompasses the meticulous preparation of government policy proposals and providing strategic direction for their implementation within existing legal frameworks. The seven-member council, including a secretary, will operate independently while advising the president based on relevant legislation including the Personnel Act, Firearms Act, and Electoral Act.
Van der San emphasized the institute’s constitutional foundation, noting that Suriname’s governance structure incorporates both judicial and administrative legal processes. “Alongside our judiciary, our state system recognizes administrative legal proceedings where the president serves as the appeals authority,” he explained during the installation ceremony.
The institutionalization of this body represents a crucial advancement for transparent and careful execution of constitutional duties. Van der San stated that the institute provides the president with “a specialized and structured advisory mechanism” that will ensure greater accountability in administrative decision-making.
Established for the current government’s term, the institute is expected to become an increasingly important resource for citizens seeking legal recourse, particularly in cases where traditional judicial pathways are limited or unavailable. This development marks a substantial evolution in Suriname’s administrative justice capabilities, potentially affecting how governmental decisions are reviewed and appealed.