PARAMARIBO (CMC):

Government and judicial officials Monday rejected claims by the United States that corruption within the judicial system was inhibiting Suriname's ability to deal effectively with the illegal drugs trade.

The US State Department in its 2008 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report released over the weekend accused several Caribbean countries, including Suriname, of not doing enough to deal effectively with the drug trade.

Washington said the "lack of resources, limited law enforcement capabilities, inadequate legislation, drug-related corruption of the police, courts and military, a complicated and time-consuming bureaucracy and overburdened and underresourced courts inhibit the government of Suriname's ability to identify, apprehend and prosecute narcotic traffickers".