PARAMARIBO – Lawyer Humphrey Schurman died in hospital on Monday morning after being ill for some time. He was co-founder of Network Star Suriname NV, the parent company of news site Starnieuws.
“Although he was in the hospital and doing better, his passing came as a shock. I spoke to him two days ago and he was looking forward to going home and taking extra care of his health,” said Nita Ramcharan, co-founder of Network Star Suriname and editor-in-chief of Starnieuws, to the True Time.
According to Ramcharan, Schurman “still had so many plans”. She continues: “We are all shocked by his sudden death. He was always someone who remained positive and did not shy away from challenges. Schurman was chairman of NSS and was very proud of the Starnieuws team. We must process this loss and move on.”
Versatile career in the legal profession
With the death of Schurman, society loses a versatile personality who had been at the helm of his own firm, Schurman Advocaten NV, since 1988. Under his leadership, this office grew into a leading institute that offered expertise in diverse areas, ranging from corporate and family law to intellectual property law and criminal law. In addition to his practice, he was chairman of the Surinamese Lawyers Association and committed to social causes through organizations such as MilieuWatch and the Youth and Nature Projects Foundation. He was also involved in the Boy Scouts.
Fellow lawyer Joan Nibte cherishes warm memories of their decades-long collaboration, which started when she was still an intern. “I have known Mr. Schurman in his capacity as a lawyer for more than thirty years. During that period I was an intern at the law firm of Mr. Hooplot, while we were also neighbors on Watermolenstraat. This formed the basis for a good and collegial relationship,” she recalls.
Social involvement and collegiality
In the courtroom and beyond, Schurman was known for his amicable approach and his role as a mentor for the younger generation of lawyers. Nibte emphasizes his accessibility and the broad impact of his work. “He was always approachable and one could always call on him. In his practice he showed that he preferred to resolve disputes amicably, paying attention to both legal and human aspects.”
His contribution to Surinamese legislation was also significant. Nibte adds: “He served on several committees, and I had the privilege of working under his responsibility in the preparation of the Tobacco Act, aimed at discouraging smoking and protecting public health.”
Schurman is remembered as an expert and driven professional with a great passion for his country and field. Nibte concludes with a personal tribute: “He was also a pleasant person to be around outside of work, with a sense of humor. I will always remember him as a dedicated, expert and driven colleague.”
