Suriname

Independence from the Netherlands was granted in 1975. Five years later the civilian government was replaced by a military regime that soon declared a socialist republic. It continued to rule through a succession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when international pressure finally brought about a democratic election.

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

• mostly tropical rain forest;
• great diversity of flora and fauna that, for the most part, is increasingly threatened by new development;
• relatively small population, most of which lives along the coast

0-14 years:

32% (male 70,871; female 67,466)

15-64 years:

62% (male 137,209; female 131,905)

65 years and over:

6% (male 10,907; female 12,945) (2000 est.)

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.04 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.84 male(s)/female

total population:

1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

noun:

Surinamer(s)

adjective:

Surinamese

conventional long form:

Republic of Suriname

conventional short form:

Suriname

local long form:

Republiek Suriname

local short form:

Suriname

former:

Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana

chief of state:

• President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since 14 September 1996);
• Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since 14 September 1996);
• note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:

• President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since 14 September 1996);
• Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since 14 September 1996);
• note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet:

Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly

elections:

• president and vice president elected by the National Assembly or, if no presidential or vice presidential candidate receives a constitutional majority vote in the National Assembly after two votes, by the larger People's Assembly (869 representatives from the national, local, and regional councils), for five-year terms;
• election last held 23 May 1996;
• runoff election held 5 September 1996 (next to be held NA May 2000)

note: widespread demonstrations during the summer of 1999 led to the calling of elections a year early

election results:

• Jules WIJDENBOSCH elected president;
• percent of legislative vote - NA;
• National Assembly failed to elect the president;
• results reflect votes cast by the People's Assembly - Jules WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) received 438 votes, Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) received 407 votes

• Alternative Forum or AF [Rick VAN RAVENSWAY];
• Democratic Alternative '91 or DA '91 (a coalition of the AF and BEP, formed in January 1991) [Winston JESSURUN];
• Democratic Party or DP [Frank PLAYFAIR];
• Independent Progressive Democratic Alternative or OPDA [Joginder RAMKHILAWAN];
• National Democratic Party or NDP [Desire BOUTERSE];
• National Party of Suriname or NPS [Ronald VENETIAAN];
• Naya Kadam [Marijke DJWALAPERSAD];
• Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics or BEP [Caprino ALLENDE];
• Party for Renewal and Democracy or BVD [Atta MUNGRA];
• Party of National Unity and Solidarity or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA];
• Party of the Federation of Land Workers or PVF [Jwan SITAL];
• Pertjaja Luhur [Paul SOMOHARDJO];
• Progressive Reform Party or VHP [Jaggernath LACHMON];
• Progressive Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union or PALU [Ir Iwan KROLIS];
• Reformed Progressive Party or HPP [Harry KISOENSINGH];
• Suriname Labor Party or SPA [Fred DERBY];
• The New Front or NF (a coalition of four parties NPS, VHP, SPA, and Pertjaja Luhur) [Ronald R. VENETIAAN];
• The Progressive Development Alliance (a combination of two parties, HPP and PVF) [Harry KISOENSINGH]

• General Liberation and Development Party or ABOP [Ronnie BRUNSWIJK];
• Mandela Bushnegro Liberation Movement [Leendert ADAMS];
• Tucayana Amazonica [Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJO];
• Union for Liberation and Democracy [Kofi AFONGPONG]

chief of mission:

Ambassador Arnold Theodoor HALFHIDE

chancery:

Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 244-7488

FAX:

[1] (202) 244-5878

consulate(s) general:

Miami

chief of mission:

Ambassador Dennis K. HAYS

embassy:

Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo

mailing address:

P. O. Box 1821, American Embassy Paramaribo, Department of State, Washington, DC, 20521-3390

telephone:

[597] 472900, 477881, 476459

FAX:

[597] 420800

• five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width);
• there is a large, yellow, five-pointed star centered in the red band

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

• paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts;
• beef, chickens;
• forest products;
• shrimp

total:

166 km (single track)

standard gauge:

80 km 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge:

86 km 1.000-m gauge

total:

4,530 km

paved:

1,178 km

unpaved:

3,352 km (1996 est.)

• 1,200 km;
• most important means of transport;
• oceangoing vessels with drafts ranging up to 7 m can navigate many of the principal waterways

total:

3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,432 GRT/4,525 DWT

ships by type:

cargo 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)

• claims area in French Guiana between Litani Rivier and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa);
• claims area in Guyana between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Koetari [Kutari] Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)