According to President Jennifer Simons, Suriname has only until the first half of 2027 to submit improvements that must protect the country from international financial blacklisting. During her annual address on Wednesday, September 30, she warned that the threat requires full attention and that both legislation and enforcement must be strengthened.
“This threat demands our full attention,” Simons stated in De Nationale Assemblée (Suriname’s parliament). According to the president, no improvement has been achieved in recent years on the points with which Suriname did not comply.
“There is now only time until the first half of 2027 to submit our improvements,” the head of state said. The annual address does not mention an exact submission date, the assessing body, or an overview of the shortcomings that must be addressed.
Legislation and enforcement
The approach to the blacklisting risk falls under the policy priority of financial health and transparency. The government intends to renew tax and customs laws, modernise investment legislation, and tighten supervision of virtual assets.
“With the renewal of our tax and customs laws, the Investment Act and stricter supervision of virtual assets, we are strengthening government revenues,” Simons said.
She also announced legislation, regulations and enforcement that must protect Suriname against international blacklisting. The president did not elaborate in this part of the address on which legislative proposals are directly linked to the stated improvements and when these will be submitted to parliament.
Strengthening the Belastingdienst and customs
In modernising the government’s financial services, the government is focusing on better data, digitisation, targeted checks and stronger collection. According to Simons, six draft laws were submitted to De Nationale Assemblée in 2026 for the establishment of a tax and collection authority.
Customs is also being further strengthened. The president pointed to the influx of new staff and the strengthening of the local detection unit with a special dog unit, in cooperation with Dutch customs.
According to the government, these measures must contribute to better border controls and the reduction of smuggling and illegal trade. However, the annual address does not make clear which of these measures count towards the international assessment process to which Simons refers.
The warning means that the government must make progress in the coming months with the required improvements. Whether their submission is sufficient to prevent blacklisting is not explained in the annual address. The president speaks of a threat; she does not announce a decision already taken on financial blacklisting.
