De Surinaamse bevolking en haar districtscommissarissen. Enkele aantekeningen

Samenvatting

Role of the „district-commissioners" of Surinam. This essay is a description of the important position Surinam „districtscommissarissen” (i.e. district-commissioners) have got in Surinam society, in particular outside the Surinam capital, Paramaribo. The author deals with the competencies and responsibilities these local administrators have in accordance with statutory law and governmental instructions, especially in the agrarian sphere. His main object however is to describe what problems and complaints the population is used to submit to the commissioner and his assistents (the „Bestuursopzichters"). His inductive material consists of accounts of what happened on some „audiëntie-morgens” (public audiences on fixed dates) he attended. There was an enormous diversity of matters. Moreover the commissioner himself as well as his assistants are often involved in public and even private festivities as well expected to take part in mischief and trouble. The author’s conclusion is that the present impartial and socially important position these functionaries needs to be maintained by wise policy of the Surinam government.