In a significant move to address chronic parliamentary absenteeism, Surinamese Assembly members Bronto Somohardjo and Silvana Afonsoewa have submitted a formal proposal to amend the standing orders of De Nationale Assemblée (DNA). The initiative targets the persistent lack of quorum that has repeatedly paralyzed legislative and oversight functions, undermining both parliamentary efficiency and public trust in the nation’s highest representative body.
The core provision of the proposed amendment would introduce Article 32a under the heading ‘Quorum Responsibility,’ establishing that any legislator absent without valid justification from two consecutive quorum-required meetings would be classified as structurally absent. Such members would face temporary suspension of fifty percent of their compensation for the following month, with automatic reinstatement upon resuming their attendance duties.
Valid exemptions would include documented illness, official government duties, and circumstances of force majeure. Assembly Chair Ashwin Adhin, who received the formally registered proposal on Tuesday, would be empowered to implement the salary withholdings following consultation with the clerk, while also maintaining transparent records of absences and providing periodic reports.
The proponents emphasize that the measure is not intended as punitive but as a proportional corrective mechanism. ‘Providing quorum is not a favor to the coalition or opposition—it is a duty to the people,’ stated Somohardjo. Both legislators assert that the initiative transcends political gamesmanship, seeking instead to reinforce institutional credibility and professional responsibility among elected representatives.
The proposal now awaits formal consideration and scheduling by the National Assembly, potentially marking a transformative step toward greater parliamentary accountability in Suriname’s democratic processes.
