On Thursday, April 17, the Suriname Bar Association (SJV) in partnership with the Suriname Law Journal hosted a public expert lecture focused on answering a critical policy question: Does Suriname need its own stand-alone national Corporate Governance Code? The event centered discussion on three core pillars of effective institutional management: strong governance, full operational transparency, and unwavering institutional integrity.
The event’s lead presenters, legal experts Mirto Murray and Karan Doekhi, opened the discussion by breaking down Curaçao’s existing national Corporate Governance Code, drawing key parallels between Curaçao’s regulatory framework and the current institutional landscape in Suriname. Throughout the lecture, the concept of integrity — defined by speakers as “upholding ethical standards even when no one is watching” — served as the throughline for all conversation.
The legal experts emphasized that robust corporate governance standards are particularly critical for state-owned enterprises, public utility providers, national port authorities, and financial institutions including the Central Bank of Suriname. These organizations, they noted, manage public financial resources and hold foundational roles in national economic activity, making it non-negotiable for them to adhere to strict requirements for transparency and public accountability.
Following the presentation, a open discussion was held with attendees, who included senior policymakers, practicing legal professionals, law students, and representatives from both public and private sector institutions. Participants focused particular attention on the division of responsibilities between key institutional bodies: the state as primary shareholder, institutional executive leadership, and boards of commissioners. Attendees stressed that every governing body must operate within clear, legally defined boundaries to mitigate a range of risks, including legal liability for mismanagement.
While Suriname currently does not have a dedicated national Corporate Governance Code, speakers highlighted that the country’s recently updated Civil Code already enshrines key core standards for careful, responsible institutional management, and these standards already apply to all organizations carrying out public tasks.
The event concluded with a formal call to action for the development of a Suriname-specific Corporate Governance Code through a broad, inclusive consultation process that includes representation from the national government, national parliament, regulatory oversight bodies, the national business community, civil society organizations, and academic institutions.
The SJV has publicly confirmed that it stands ready to serve a facilitating and advisory role throughout the process of developing the code. In a statement following the event, the association stressed that strong corporate governance is not an unnecessary luxury for Suriname, but a core requirement for protecting citizen and stakeholder rights, reducing the national risk of corruption, and unlocking sustainable long-term economic growth opportunities for the country.