Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08PARAMARIBO99
2008-03-10 20:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Paramaribo
Cable title:
FISCAL TRANSPARENCY IN SURINAME
how-toVZCZCXYZ0004 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHPO #0099/01 0702023 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 102023Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0037
UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000099
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EEB/IFD/OMA FOR ANDREW SNOW AND RICHARD FIGUEROA, WHA/EPSC
FOR LISA KUBISKE, WHA/CAR FOR JACKIE ROSHOLT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON PREL NS
SUBJECT: FISCAL TRANSPARENCY IN SURINAME
REF: SECSTATE 16737
UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000099
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EEB/IFD/OMA FOR ANDREW SNOW AND RICHARD FIGUEROA, WHA/EPSC
FOR LISA KUBISKE, WHA/CAR FOR JACKIE ROSHOLT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON PREL NS
SUBJECT: FISCAL TRANSPARENCY IN SURINAME
REF: SECSTATE 16737
1. (U) The following response is keyed to reftel;
government fiscal matters are largely transparent in Suriname.
Q: Does Suriname receive foreign assistance from the United
States?
A: Yes.
Q: Are there relevant laws and regulations in Suriname
governing the public disclosure of revenues and expenditures
in national budgets?
A: Yes.
Q: Adequacy of those laws and regulations, and the extent to
which implemented?
A: The laws are adequate, and the budget is printed annually
and available to the public. A separate volume on final
expenditures is also printed annually, and sent immediately
to stakeholders.
Q: Programs and activities sponsored by the USG to promote
accurate disclosure of revenues and expenditures in the
national budget, and the results of those programs and
activities.
A: (See below.) Also, at regular intervals, the GOS
Ministry of Planning requests information from donors
regarding the programs and activities undertaken or planned.
These programs are noted in the Government,s annual budget
presentations to the Parliament.
Additional questions:
Q: Is the host country,s budget made public?
A: Yes.
Q: If so, through what medium (e.g., publication, internet)?
A: The budget is discussed and debated openly by government
officials and members in parliament in publicly held
parliamentary sessions attended by media and members of the
general public. Subsequent to final approval, the Government
publishes the final budget. Copies may be purchased from the
Ministry of Finance.
Q: Are all revenues and expenditures included in the
publicly-available budget?
A: No. As in most countries, the budget for certain
activities (e.g., intelligence activities and some military
spending) are not made public.
Q: If the revenues and expenditures are available in a
publicly-available budget, how meaningful and accurate is the
information?
A: The information is accurate; however, budgets are
sometimes not sufficient to meet the needs of the ministries
to which the budget is allocated. Thus, the Government of
Suriname relies on the international donor community to
supplement, and in some cases assume responsibility for, some
services and development. In addition, expenditures do not
always match targets. However, after spending for the year
is complete, the state Accounting Council complies and
publishes a report on actual expenditures the following year.
Q: If a country is weak on fiscal transparency is it due to
capacity or lack of will?
A: Suriname suffers from a lack of trained professionals.
The financial investigative unit remains understaffed;
however, the government has demonstrated a willingness to
promulgate new laws that address money laundering, fraud,
corruption, and assets forfeiture, and the Ministry of
Justice and Police has demonstrated a commitment to
investigate and prosecute these types of cases, even when
they involve government officials.
Q: Are there any USG programs to strengthen the host
country,s capacity to develop sound fiscal policies and that
support transparency and good governance?
A: USG assistance programs promote good governance by
focusing on transparency and accountability in bilateral
projects, especially in law enforcement and justice, as well
as in military assistance and training. Military assistance
programs and INL-funded law enforcement support require
"end-use monitoring." The Surinamese institutions receiving
USG assistance through these mechanisms are generally
compliant with these "end-use" requirements.
A, cont'd: Suriname is developing modern laws to address
money laundering, assets forfeiture, fraud, and corruption,
and has demonstrated a willingness to address these issues
through the legal system. In 2007, cases proceeded against
former and current government officials, with one case
resulting in fines and imprisonment. In addition, the former
Minister of Transportation, Communication, and Tourism was
forced to resign in 2007 over allegations that official
ministry funds were used to organize her birthday party. No
prosecution has resulted from that case.
Q: Are other donor countries or multilateral institutions
(e.g. the EU or World Bank) providing assistance in these
areas?
A: The Government of the Netherlands historically is the
largest donor in Suriname. A large portion of current Dutch
funding is targeted at institutional development and
capacity-building. The IDB has just announced the second
phase of its decentralization program, designed to develop
institutional capacity at the district and local levels of
government.
Q: Has the country volunteered for the IMF to report on the
country,s compliance with standards and codes covering
fiscal transparency?
A: No report is available on the IMF web site at
www.imf.org/external/np/rosc/rosc.asp.
SCHREIBER HUGHES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EEB/IFD/OMA FOR ANDREW SNOW AND RICHARD FIGUEROA, WHA/EPSC
FOR LISA KUBISKE, WHA/CAR FOR JACKIE ROSHOLT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON PREL NS
SUBJECT: FISCAL TRANSPARENCY IN SURINAME
REF: SECSTATE 16737
1. (U) The following response is keyed to reftel;
government fiscal matters are largely transparent in Suriname.
Q: Does Suriname receive foreign assistance from the United
States?
A: Yes.
Q: Are there relevant laws and regulations in Suriname
governing the public disclosure of revenues and expenditures
in national budgets?
A: Yes.
Q: Adequacy of those laws and regulations, and the extent to
which implemented?
A: The laws are adequate, and the budget is printed annually
and available to the public. A separate volume on final
expenditures is also printed annually, and sent immediately
to stakeholders.
Q: Programs and activities sponsored by the USG to promote
accurate disclosure of revenues and expenditures in the
national budget, and the results of those programs and
activities.
A: (See below.) Also, at regular intervals, the GOS
Ministry of Planning requests information from donors
regarding the programs and activities undertaken or planned.
These programs are noted in the Government,s annual budget
presentations to the Parliament.
Additional questions:
Q: Is the host country,s budget made public?
A: Yes.
Q: If so, through what medium (e.g., publication, internet)?
A: The budget is discussed and debated openly by government
officials and members in parliament in publicly held
parliamentary sessions attended by media and members of the
general public. Subsequent to final approval, the Government
publishes the final budget. Copies may be purchased from the
Ministry of Finance.
Q: Are all revenues and expenditures included in the
publicly-available budget?
A: No. As in most countries, the budget for certain
activities (e.g., intelligence activities and some military
spending) are not made public.
Q: If the revenues and expenditures are available in a
publicly-available budget, how meaningful and accurate is the
information?
A: The information is accurate; however, budgets are
sometimes not sufficient to meet the needs of the ministries
to which the budget is allocated. Thus, the Government of
Suriname relies on the international donor community to
supplement, and in some cases assume responsibility for, some
services and development. In addition, expenditures do not
always match targets. However, after spending for the year
is complete, the state Accounting Council complies and
publishes a report on actual expenditures the following year.
Q: If a country is weak on fiscal transparency is it due to
capacity or lack of will?
A: Suriname suffers from a lack of trained professionals.
The financial investigative unit remains understaffed;
however, the government has demonstrated a willingness to
promulgate new laws that address money laundering, fraud,
corruption, and assets forfeiture, and the Ministry of
Justice and Police has demonstrated a commitment to
investigate and prosecute these types of cases, even when
they involve government officials.
Q: Are there any USG programs to strengthen the host
country,s capacity to develop sound fiscal policies and that
support transparency and good governance?
A: USG assistance programs promote good governance by
focusing on transparency and accountability in bilateral
projects, especially in law enforcement and justice, as well
as in military assistance and training. Military assistance
programs and INL-funded law enforcement support require
"end-use monitoring." The Surinamese institutions receiving
USG assistance through these mechanisms are generally
compliant with these "end-use" requirements.
A, cont'd: Suriname is developing modern laws to address
money laundering, assets forfeiture, fraud, and corruption,
and has demonstrated a willingness to address these issues
through the legal system. In 2007, cases proceeded against
former and current government officials, with one case
resulting in fines and imprisonment. In addition, the former
Minister of Transportation, Communication, and Tourism was
forced to resign in 2007 over allegations that official
ministry funds were used to organize her birthday party. No
prosecution has resulted from that case.
Q: Are other donor countries or multilateral institutions
(e.g. the EU or World Bank) providing assistance in these
areas?
A: The Government of the Netherlands historically is the
largest donor in Suriname. A large portion of current Dutch
funding is targeted at institutional development and
capacity-building. The IDB has just announced the second
phase of its decentralization program, designed to develop
institutional capacity at the district and local levels of
government.
Q: Has the country volunteered for the IMF to report on the
country,s compliance with standards and codes covering
fiscal transparency?
A: No report is available on the IMF web site at
www.imf.org/external/np/rosc/rosc.asp.
SCHREIBER HUGHES