Wages of the Judicial Branch are released

Happy Monday!

This week, we cover criticism of the Judicial system and the standoff between the miners and the police over Rosebel Gold Mines.

The National Assembly raised questions of wages for the judiciary and demanded transparency.

• Member of Parliament Poetini Atompai (NPS) has raised strong questions in The National Assembly about the remuneration structure within the judiciary and its cost to the state treasury.

• He is demanding that the government provide immediate full transparency.

• According to Atompai, there are indications that some salaries within the judiciary are three to five times higher than that of the President of the Republic of Suriname, raising concerns about proportionality, fairness, and governmental accountability to parliament.

• Atompai asked for a complete overview of gross salaries of judicial officials, broken down by position and rank.

• He also requested information on when the new salaries took effect, the total monthly cost to the state, and the cumulative financial impact to date.

• In addition, he asked about salary levels prior to the increases, the percentage raises granted, and the criteria used to determine them.

• The MP further called for transparency regarding the remuneration structure of court clerks, including how their salaries compare to other judicial officials.

• He also raised concerns about the salaries of staff of the National Assembly, arguing that they are underpaid despite playing a crucial role in parliamentary operations.

The Prosecutor General’s salary has been revealed and is shown to be over SRD 1 million per month.

• Former Director of the Cabinet of the President, Eugène van der San, published proof of the high wages of the Prosecutor General (PG).

• Van der San had previously publicly criticized the PG’s income and questioned the level and structure of the salary.

• The payslip shows a total gross amount of over SRD 1.4 million, with a net amount of more than SRD 1 million after deductions.

• The breakdown includes a base salary of SRD 562,018, various allowances (representation, car, housing, and management allowances), and employer contributions for pension and social benefits.

• The disclosure follows earlier political controversy over the remuneration structure within the judiciary as they earn more than the president of the country.

• Furthermore, the salary of

• The new judicial salary scale was formally established on July 14, 2025 allows annual 5% step increases for up to 35 years of service.

• The President of the Court of Justice earns SRD 123,845 at entry level, rising to over SRD 600,000 per month at the maximum scale.

• The Vice President of the Court starts at SRD 105,289, increasing to over SRD 510,000 at the top scale.

• Judges start between approximately SRD 48,000 and SRD 65,000, with maximum salaries ranging from about SRD 250,000 to SRD 300,000.

• Junior and senior category members start between approximately SRD 76,000 and SRD 96,000, rising to over SRD 430,000.

• The salary adjustments have sparked public and political debate, particularly regarding proportionality, fairness, and budgetary impact.

Gold Miners are rejecting are police ultimatum to leave Rosebel Gold Mines.

• Talks are currently underway between the group of small-scale miners, the authorities, and Zijin Rosebel Gold Mines.

• President Jennifer Simons stated that forceful measures may not be necessary if clear agreements are reached.

• She emphasized that halting mining operations would have financial consequences for the state, noting that the government holds a 30% stake in Zijin and that if the company stops operating, the entire country of Suriname loses revenue.

• She stressed the need for solutions for all parties involved, stating that small-scale miners should be assigned designated areas rather than operating in active mining zones, which she described as dangerous.

• She also acknowledged that the matter is a historical issue involving people from surrounding communities.

• Tensions between small-scale miners and the multinational company escalated again after a fatal incident involving a small-scale miner within Zijin’s concession area.

• Heavy equipment was set on fire during the unrest, and multinational staff were withdrawn while security forces struggled to restore order.

• The group, who claim that they are not operating illegally, stated they do not intend to leave the area.

• The small-scale miners have stated that because the concession lies in the middle of a village, making legal ownership questions sensitive, and a need for dialogue.

• The police announcement for miners to leave without prior consultation without prior consultation as miners believe dialogue should come first.

• The miners presented proposals including cooperation with the company and structured working arrangements; these will be compiled into a report to be submitted to the president, emphasizing that the miners seek recognition and clarity, not confrontation.