The members of the NPS parliamentary group in De Nationale Assemblée (DNA, Suriname’s parliament) have already submitted their Declaration of Income and Assets (VIV) to the Openbaar Ministerie (OM, Public Prosecution Service). NPS parliamentary group leader Jerrel Pawiroredjo confirmed this on Sunday in the programme Welingelichte Kringen.
“I have already done so, and the others have done so as well,” Pawiroredjo stated. He emphasised that public officials who do not submit their declaration within the stipulated period are acting in violation of the law and may face criminal consequences.
Justice and Police Minister Harish Monorath recently stated that the law is clear about the obligation to register income and assets. According to the minister, public officials who fail to comply with the legal provisions may be criminally prosecuted.
President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons promulgated the regulation on December 16. According to the decision, all relevant public officials had to register their income and assets within two months. However, a considerable number of officials, including government officials, failed to meet the original deadline.
Minister Monorath subsequently requested the procureur-generaal (pg) to extend the submission deadline. This request was granted, after which the deadline was extended by six months. The minister stressed that public officials do not need to be afraid to register their income and assets.
Broad group of officials required to register
The obligation to submit a Declaration of Income and Assets applies to a broad group of public officials. These include members of the government, De Nationale Assemblée, the Staatsraad, the Sociaal-Economische Raad, the judiciary and the Rekenkamer.
Directors, deputy directors and heads of departments at ministries, the Kabinet van de President and the Kabinet van de Vicepresident are also covered by the regulation. The same applies to officials of state institutions, members of supervisory boards and boards of commissioners, diplomats and certain officials within the armed forces.
Furthermore, civil servants of the Dienst Grondinspectie, sworn state land surveyors and members of government-established committees with financial powers are required to submit a declaration. Members of the Anti-corruptiecommissie are also subject to this legal obligation.
The regulation forms part of the legal measures intended to promote transparency and integrity within public administration.
