but it is also about getting a grip on the fastest growing sector. Justice and Police Minister Harish Monorath recently pointed out that there are an estimated 40,000 e-bikes in traffic but that there was no legislation for a long time. He explained that most of the e-bikes are not complete when they are imported because the parts are imported before they are assembled in Suriname. Importers opt for this strategy because it has tax benefits and because the government does not have a strong grip on it. “When spare parts are imported instead of the complete e-bike, one pays less tax,” said Minister Monorath who added that the government has more opportunities to regulate that portion of the market.

The citizens refer to the law as the E-bike Act but Minister Monorath explained that the reform goes beyond e-bikes as it also applies to hybrid vehicles and other electric vehicles.

“It applies to everything,” said Minister Monorath who added that the legislation could not keep up with the rise of the electric mobility. As a result of this a legal gray area popped up which is why it was unclear which rules applied to e-bikes, electric motorcycles and hybrid vehicles. The government has once again picked up the pace with the new legislation that will go into effect on January 1st, 2027.