Suriname faces gaps in shelter oversight and crisis care

Suriname's Minister of Social Affairs and Housing, Diana Pokie, has identified significant deficiencies in the oversight of shelters and care institutions. Current supervisory boards lack the capacity to perform adequate inspections, creating risks for vulnerable clients. To address this, Pokie proposes augmenting these boards with experts and strengthening legal frameworks to ensure institutions meet the standards set by the Shelter Act.

In addition to oversight issues, the ministry faces a critical shortage of dedicated crisis and transit facilities for children and youth in emergency situations. While the ministry intends to establish its own crisis center, it has yet to secure a suitable building. In the interim, the government is working to improve cooperation between agencies and relies on existing institutions to provide temporary support while seeking structural solutions.