SURINAME-CMZ criticises the minister’s statement.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – The Monuments Conservation Commission (CMZ) says Education, Science and Culture Minister, Dirk Currie, used “an unfortunate choice of words” when he said over the weekend that violators of the Monuments Act need not be prosecuted because the government itself fails to maintain its own monuments adequately.

“We consider this an unfortunate choice of words. Precisely from the government official responsible for cultural policy and the protection of national heritage, one should expect to emphasize the importance of consistent compliance with the Monuments Act,” the CMZ said in a statement.

Last Saturday, Currie told the de Ware Tijd newspaper that the Public Prosecution Service, which is authorised to investigate criminal offences independently, does not rule out criminal prosecution regarding the monumental building at Dr. JF Nassylaan 43, scheduled for demolition in 2025.

In its statement, the CMZ said that the government’s failure to maintain its own monuments must never justify leaving violations unpunished. It said that the Monuments Act of 2002 was established to protect Suriname’s historical and cultural heritage, and its effectiveness depends on credible enforcement.

“The protection of monuments is a shared responsibility of both the government and private owners. This requires, on the one hand, a government that sets a good example in the management of its own heritage and, on the other hand, a clear message that illegal demolition or alteration of monuments will not be tolerated.”

The CMZ is calling on Curries to reconsider his statement and to explicitly speak out in favour of the consistent application and enforcement of the law.

“Only with clear leadership and respect for the law can national heritage be preserved for future generations,” the CMZ said, adding that it regrets Currie’s remarks that it is merely a ‘working arm’ that only provides advice.

The CMZ said that this does not do justice to the role assigned to it by the Monuments Act, noting that it is an expert advisory body, composed of specialists in the fields of civil engineering, history, architecture, and law, ensuring that decisions regarding national heritage are made based on expertise and not merely on political or opportunistic grounds.

The CMZ said that although the minister ultimately makes the decisions, this does not absolve him of the duty to consider the advice seriously.

“At a time when monuments are increasingly under pressure, the protection of our heritage calls precisely for respect for expert advice and careful governance,” the CMZ said, noting that when this advice is systematically disregarded, the intent of the law is undermined.