Adhin made these statements on Saturday, October 24, 2026, during the opening of the conference Evaluation of the New Civil Code and Related Laws at the Torarica Banquethal. The conference focused on the experiences gained by judges, lawyers, notaries and other stakeholders since the introduction of the new legislation.
The New Civil Code, the Code of Civil Procedure and five related laws entered into force on May 1, 2025. This marked an important step in the modernisation of Surinamese civil law.
According to Adhin, the legislative process does not end when parliament has approved a law. Only when the new rules are actually applied does it become clear whether they meet the needs of society and legal practice.
“A code is adopted twice. First by parliament, through a vote. Then by practice, day after day, in the deed and in the judgment,” the Parliament Speaker stated.
Not every bottleneck requires legislative amendment
During the evaluation, various problems in the application of the new legislation were identified. The Steering Committee divided these into four categories: questions of interpretation, implementation problems, gaps in the law and unintended consequences for other legislation.
Adhin stressed that this distinction is important, because not every problem automatically needs to lead to a legislative amendment. According to him, some bottlenecks can be resolved by adapting existing procedures or working methods.
As an example, he referred to the new Procedural Regulations for civil cases, which entered into force on October 1, 2026. These regulations were established by the Hof van Justitie (Court of Justice) and aligned with the new legal provisions.
“A procedure that causes difficulties can sometimes be adjusted without changing a single word of the law,” Adhin said.
Parliament requests concrete draft texts
For problems that do require a legal solution, the Parliament Speaker expects targeted proposals from the experts involved.
He called on participants to clearly indicate with each recommendation which legal provision causes problems, what its legal consequences are and how the provision could possibly be amended.
“Formulate those recommendations in the way the legislator can incorporate them: per provision, with the bottleneck that arises in its application, its legal consequences and, where possible, a draft text with an explanation,” Adhin said.
According to him, such proposals can be directly included in parliamentary consideration and consultations with the government.
DNA promises follow-up on recommendations
The Parliament Speaker pledged that DNA will officially receive the conference recommendations. The parliament’s Legal Support Department will then be tasked with assessing them and, where necessary, preparing proposals for legislative amendments.
Adhin also wants it to become clear what ultimately happens with each recommendation. He announced that, in consultation with the organisers, he would set a time for feedback on this.
The DNA members participating in the conference working groups will also record their findings and take them to parliament.
The Speaker further reiterated his earlier plea for semi-annual consultations between the government, the judiciary, the legal profession, the notarial profession and other institutions involved. This should ensure that the application of the Civil Code is monitored structurally.
Evaluation began before introduction
Notably, preparations for the evaluation already began before the new legislation actually entered into force.
The Hof van Justitie and the Surinaamse Orde van Advocaten (Surinamese Bar Association) established a committee on November 1, 2024, to monitor the introduction and application of the new code. This took place six months before the new rules entered into force.
Adhin expressed his appreciation for this approach. “You began evaluating before there was anything to evaluate. For that I thank you, on behalf of parliament.”
The old Civil Code, which dated from 1869, formed the basis of Surinamese civil law for nearly a century and a half. With the introduction of the new code, that legal foundation has been renewed, but according to Adhin, practice must ultimately show where further adjustments are needed.
The Parliament Speaker therefore does not regard any legislative amendments in the coming years as a failure of the reform, but as a consequence of the evaluation process.
“If the new code receives its first amendment within a few years, that will be proof that we have listened to you. Then the second adoption will also be complete: that by legal practice,” Adhin concluded.
