Suriname

The Republic of Suriname is situated in northern South America, sharing its border with Guyana to the west, French Guiana to the east and Brazil to the south. The North Atlantic Ocean bounds the country to the north. It is one of the three non-Spanish-speaking South American countries and it is the only independent Dutch-speaking nation in the Western Hemisphere. Suriname is the tiniest state of South America in terms of area and population. The city of Paramaribo is the capital of Suriname.

HISTORY:- The Surinen Indians were the earliest inhabitants of Suriname. Later the South American Indians migrated into the land. In the 16th century, Europeans arrived in the region. Spain is the first European power to explore Suriname in 1593. The Dutch settled in Suriname in 1602, followed by Britain. In 1667, under the Treaty of Breda, the British ceded the land to the Dutch in exchange of New Amsterdam. The land was known as the Dutch Guiana. Dutch colonization remained restricted within the coastal strip until 1863, when slavery was outlawed by the Netherlands in Suriname. The region was incorporated into the kingdom of the Netherlands in 1948. Dutch Guiana achieved home rule in internal affairs in 1950. Over the issues like unemployment and inflation, the Netherlands was forced to grant independence to Suriname in 1975. In 1980, military rule started. Lieut. Col. Dési Bouterse became the all in all of the country. Bush Negro guerrilla group initiated a guerrilla movement. In 1991 free elections, military reign was ended. The government and several guerrilla groups signed a peace treaty in 1992.

GEOGRAPHY:- Suriname is located at 4 00 N, 56 00 W in Northern South America. Suriname possesses total 163,270 sq km area in which 161,470 sq km area in covered with land masses and 1,800 sq km area is covered with internal waters. The coastline is 386 km long along with the North Atlantic Ocean. The lowest point is an unnamed location in the coastal plain (-2 m) while the highest point is Juliana Top (1,230 m). The interior of Suriname is mostly formed of rolling hills while swamps can be seen in the narrow coastal plains. The southern part is composed of rain forest and savanna.

CLIMATE:- The climate of Suriname is tropical, moderated by the trade winds.

GOVERNMENT:- Suriname has a constitutional democracy. The constitution was ratified on 30th September 1987 which came to effect since 30th October 1987. The legal system is based on the Dutch legal system with some influences of French penal theory. The three major branches of the government are:

Executive branch comprises the President (chief of state and head of government), the Vice President, and the Cabinet of Minister. The president and vice president are elected by the National Assembly. The cabinet of ministers is appointed by the president.

Legislative branch comprises the unicameral National Assembly (51 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Cantonal Courts and the Court of Justice.

The Governing coalition include National Party of Suriname (NPS), Progressive Reform Party (VHP), Pertjaja Luhur, A - Combination, a coalition of General Interior Development Party (ABOP), Brotherhood and Unity in Politics (BEP), and Seeka.  Other major political parties in the National Assembly are National Democratic Party (NDP), Democratic National Platform 2000 (DNP 2000), Alternative 1 (A1), Party for Renewal and Development (BVD), and Javanese Indonesian Peasants Party (KTPI). Suffrage is universal at the age of 18.

President             Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan

Vice President      Ramdien Sardjoe

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Suriname is divided into 10 districts: Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, and Wanica. These districts are further divided into 62 resorts.

CULTURE:- Football is the most popular sport in Suriname. Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit, Patrick Kluivert, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Aron Winter, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Stanley Menzo, Ryan Babel and Fabian Wilnis are some of the Surinamese names who represent in the Netherlands football team.

ECONOMY:- Mining industry is the backbone of Surinamese economy. Bauxite industry is the major industry of Suriname. Alumina, gold, and oil account for about 85% of exports and 25% of state income. Suriname receives financial aid from the Netherlands, Belgium, and the European Development Fund.

GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $4.073 billion; per capita $7,800.

Real growth rate: 5.5%.

Inflation: 6.4%.

Unemployment: 9.5% (2004).

Arable land: 0.4%.

Agriculture: Paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens; shrimp; forest products.

Labor force: 156,700 (2004); agriculture 8%, industry 14%, services 78%.

Industries: Bauxite and gold mining, alumina production; oil, lumbering, food processing, fishing.

Budget:  

Revenues: $392.6 million

Expenditures: $425.9 million (2004)

Debt - external: $504.3 million (2005 est.)

Natural resources: Timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore.

Exports: $881 million f.o.b. (2004 est.): alumina, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas.

Imports: $750 million f.o.b. (2004 est.): capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods.

Major trading partners: Norway, U.S., Canada, Belgium, France, UAE, Netherlands, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, China, Brazil (2004).

Monetary unit: Surinamese dollar

LANGUAGE:- Dutch is the official language but Sranan Tongo, Hindi, English, Hindustani, Javanese, Marathi, Bhojpuri, Hakka, Cantonese, Boni, Saramaccan, Paramakan, Ndyuka, Kwinti, Matawai, Cariban, Arawakan, Aluku, and Kalina are also spoken.

CITIES:- The capital of Suriname Paramaribo is the largest city of the country as well. Other major cities are Nieuw Nickerie, Moengo, Brownsweg, Albina.

POPULATION:- The approximate population of Suriname is 470,784 with a growth rate of 1.1%.

Density per sq mi: 8

Literacy rate: 89.6% (2004 est.)

RACE:-

East Indian 37%

Surinamese Creole 31%

Javanese 15%

Surinamese Maroon 10%

Amerindian 2%

Chinese 2%

Other 2%

White 1%.

RELIGION:-

Hindu 27.4%

Protestant 25.2% (mostly Moravian)

Roman Catholic 22.8%

Muslim 19.6%

Indigenous beliefs 5%

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 17.02 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 5.51 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 19.45 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.48 years

Total fertility rate: 2.01 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 500 (2003 est.)

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 325

UNICEF:- UNICEF in Suriname mainly focuses on children health, children and women protection, provision of basic education, and HIV awareness and prevention

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: total: 166 km (single track) (2001).

Highways: total: 4,492 km; paved: 1,168 km; unpaved: 3,324 km (2000).

Waterways: 1,200 km; most important means of transport.

Ports and harbors: Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie, Paramaribo, Paranam, Wageningen.

Airports: 46 (2002).