Decision 45 COM 7B.119

Historic Inner City of Paramaribo (Suriname) (C 940rev)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7B.70 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Welcomes the designs of the Waterfornt of the property, revised in conformity with the recommendations of ICOMOS’ technical reviews, and the launch of the Environmental and Social Impact Analysis (ESIA), which will inform the final design of the Waterfront, as well as the planning of a new Paramaribo Urban Rehabilitation Programme(PURP), with the Inter-American Development Bank to start in 2024, and requests that extensive information in its regard be submitted to the World heritage Centre as soon as possible;
4. Expresses its serious regret that no action has been taken concerning the extension of the boundaries of the property to include a 50-meter strip along the river, nor concerning the draft extension of the boundaries of the buffer zone, and urges the State Party to submit them as a Minor Boundary Modification in accordance with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines;
5. Takes note with appreciation of the approval of the Historic Inner City of Paramaribo World Heritage City Management Plan 2020-2024 by the Council of Ministers and the initial budget provided for its implementation and encourages the State Party to ensure its effective implementation and financial support;
6. Also welcomes the rehabilitation of some 15 public and private historic buildings demolished or otherwise destroyed by fire or decay, the reconstruction of the former National Assembly Building, the restoration of three government-owned buildings in line with suggestions of ICOMOS’ technical reviews and also requests the State Party to provide full photographic or graphic documentation of the reconstructed National Assembly Building and restoration of Waterkant 30 and 32;
7. Equally welcomes the initiatives to raise awareness of the population and of owners on the importance of the buildings, as well as the initiatives to manage parking in the historic city center, and encourages the State Party to restore government-owned historic buildings still needing urgent rehabilitation, to take adequate legal measures with regard to illegal destruction of historic buildings, and to continue the public awareness-raising campaign;
8. Appreciates the review and revision of the legal framework of the Building Committee and the Monuments Commission in view of protecting the historic inner city and further requests the State Party to submit these to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies as soon as possible;
9. Notes that the proposed new Assembly Hall behind the recently reconstructed buildings at Henck Arronstraat 2-4 and 6 would pose an adverse and irreversible impact on the the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), recommends to the State Party to study alternative options, including the refurbishing of the present location at the Onafhankelijkheidsplein (Independence Square), and in case of any further development at the premises of Henck Arronstraat 2-4 and 6, to respect the earlier agreed Master Plan and the recommendations of previous technical reviews, and urges the State Party to undertake Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs), in line with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context, on the housing of the National Assembly at its present or alternative locations and submit these to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies as soon as they become available;
10. Also notes the technical reviews of four additional projects (two restoration projects, a new State Council building, the rehabilitation of the Palm Garden and the construction of a hotel at the Kleine Combeweg) undertaken by ICOMOS and requests furthermore the State Party to take the recommendations of these reviews into consideration, provide additional documentation as requested and enter into consultations with the Advisory Bodies as appropriate, and requests moreover that the State Party ensure that no permits are delivered or irreversible actions are taken in the meantime;
11. Finally, requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2024, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 47th session.