PARAMARIBO, Suriname, Apr 29, CMC – The National Anti Money Laundering Commission of Suriname (NAMLAC) is warning that the country runs the risk of being blacklisting if insufficient measures are taken to strengthen the Anti-Money Laundering, Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Countering Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF) regime.
In a letter sent to President Jennifer Greelings-Simons, NAMLAC noted that the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country was evaluated by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) in 2022 and placed under “Enhanced Follow-Up” due to minimal ratings regarding technical compliance and the effectiveness of laws and regulations. Suriname has been given until 2027 to remedy shortcomings and comply with 40 Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations.
But according to NAMLAC, during the period 2023 through 2025, Suriname managed to obtain upgrades for 27 of the 40 recommendations and that no new requests could be submitted for 2026 because, no laws aimed at the remaining 13 recommendations have been passed by the National Assembly.
NAMLAC said that the deadline for submitting applications to the CFATF has since passed and that Suriname must present the fourth Follow-Up Report during the plenary session of the CFATF in November 2026.
It said that at that time, Suriname will be be reassessed and whether it has taken sufficient measures to meet international FATF standards.
Political commitment, institutional strengthening, and national and international cooperation will also be examined with NAMLAC noting that all updates must be submitted no later than August 2026 so that the report can be prepared in time. If it appears that Suriname has made insufficient progress, blacklisting is not ruled out.
Speaking in Parliament, opposition legislator, Asis Gajadien told legislators that based on the warning from NAMLAC, Suriname faces a serious risk of being blacklisted if swift action is not taken.
Gajadien said that various laws, government decrees, and preparations still need to be finalised, noting also the August deadline to request further upgrades.
He said Suriname risks falling back and losing previously achieved progress if the government does not act urgently, appealing to President Greelings-Simons and the government to give the matter immediate priority.
CMC/ah/ir/2026