Mr. Speaker,
Members of the National Assembly,

Allow me to also extend a special greeting to your special guests in this extraordinary public session.

Excellency Owen Arthur, Prime Minister of Barbados and Chairman of CARICOM, and CARICOM Secretary-General, Edwin Carrington.

Mr. Speaker,

Pausing at the milestone of "One Hundred and Thirty-Five Years Parliament of Suriname" takes us far back into the colonial history of the "Colonial States" to return via the transition period of the "States of Suriname" to the period of the Parliament of the Independent Republic of Suriname.

From an institute where the selected few from the European elite could advocate the interests of the well-to-do class of the colony to the Governor and, thus, to the Dutch Government, Parliament has evolved into the highest People's representation where men and women, elected by all sections of society, determine the course of the Government of Suriname and also the framework within which the Judiciary must carry out its duties. To the letter of the Constitution and organic laws as well as in actual fact Parliament, the voice of the People, has indeed become the highest body of State and, as such, one of the most important cornerstones of the democracy in Suriname.

The foundation on which Parliament is staffed, our electoral system, is laid down in the laws, by now even in the Constitution. This foundation has been adjusted several times because of changed views concerning the underlying idea that our Parliament should be a reflection of the People of Suriname as much as possible.

To actually work out this underlying idea is not that simple considering the many characteristics of our People, characteristics that set Suriname apart as a truly complex society.

In this regard we mention the religious, ethnic, cultural, economic social, educational, geographical and last but not least ideological differences that are present in our small community; a diversity that is our wealth and at the same time does not make it easy to distribute the opportunities among the various groups of the population to have themselves represented in Parliament.

After the introduction of universal suffrage in 1948 matters were in first instance organised in such a manner that even the smallest majority in a constituency resulted in securing all available Parliamentary seats in that district.

By now the system of the highest averages has been introduced in our electoral system allowing in any case for a fairly well balanced distribution of available seats among the political parties, naturally, based on the number of votes obtained by those parties from the voters.

Mr. Speaker,

I paused at the electoral system for a moment because on this occasion I would like to emphasize the importance of continuously studying the issue on the degree to which the valid electoral system provides the opportunity for proper representation of the People.

Our country is praised as an example, and is probably the strongest example in which so much diversity is able to exist in harmony and take steps forward in the development.

This praise may very well be justified. However, let us and the world realise that it is a harmony that requires constant turning this way and that guided by the wisdom of our political leaders and their officers.

When this wisdom was pushed aside by the young lions with their coup of 1980 the problems began to manifest themselves to a most serious degree.

On this happy occasion of your Council I will not dive into the dark depths of those years. I would like to commemorate the restoration of the democracy enabling Parliament to function once again in its full significance and magnitude. In this regard we may not forget the various recurring attacks on the democracy and functioning of Parliament. Time and again our democracy has been put to the test. Likewise, time and again our democracy restored itself in a most dignified manner.

Mr. Speaker,

On behalf of the Government I congratulate you, Speaker and members of the National Assembly, and via you, the people of Suriname, in reaching this milestone of "135 Years Parliament of Suriname". I hereby express the wish that this institute always embody a proper People's representation and that it be a driving force in continuing our democratic constitutional state and development of the People of Suriname.

Thank you.