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 forced a democratic election. In 1989, the military overthrew the civilian government, but a democratically-elected government returned to power in 1991.

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, 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

• smallest independent country on South American continent;
• mostly tropical rain forest;
• great diversity of flora and fauna that, for the most part, is increasingly threatened by new development;
• relatively small population, mostly along the coast

0-14 years:

30.7% (male 68,536; female 65,165)

15-64 years:

63.3% (male 141,048; female 134,699)

65 years and over:

6% (male 11,686; female 14,315) (2003 est.)

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.05 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.82 male(s)/female

total population:

1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

noun:

Surinamer(s)

adjective:

Surinamese

conventional long form:

Republic of Suriname

conventional short form:

Suriname

local short form:

Suriname

former:

Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana

local long form:

Republiek Suriname

chief of state:

• President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August 2000);
• Vice President Jules Rattankoemar AJODHIA (since 12 August 2000);
• note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:

• President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August 2000);
• Vice President Jules Rattankoemar AJODHIA (since 12 August 2000);
• 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 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 6 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2005)

election results:

• Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN elected president by the National Assembly;
• percent of legislative vote - Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN 72.5%;
• Rashied DOEKHIE (NDP) 19.6%;
• total votes cast - Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (New Front) 37 votes, Rashied DOEKHIE (NDP) 10 votes

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

• Democratic Alternative '91 or DA '91 (a coalition of the Alternative Forum or AF and Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics or BEP, formed in January 1991) [Winston JESSURUN];
• Democratic National Platform 2000 or DNP 2000 (coalition of two parties, Democratic Party and Democrats of the 21st Century) [Jules WIJDENBOSCH];
• Independent Progressive Democratic Alternative or OPDA [Joginder RAMKHILAWAN];
• Millennium Combination or MC (a coalition of three parties, Democratic Alternative, Party for National Unity and Solidarity, and National Democratic Party) [leader NA];
• National Democratic Party or NDP [Desire BOUTERSE];
• Naya Kadam or NK [leader NA];
• Party for Renewal and Democracy or BVD [Tjan GOBARDHAN];
• Party of National Unity and Solidarity or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA];
• Pertjaja Luhur [Paul SOMOHARDJO];
• Progressive Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union or PALU [Ir Iwan KROLIS];
• The New Front or NF (a coalition of four parties Suriname National Party or NPS, Progressive Reform Party or VHP, Suriname Labor Party or SPA, and Pertjaja Luhur) [Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN];
• The Progressive Development Alliance (a combination of three parties, Renewed Progressive Party or HPP, Party of the Federation of Land Workers or PVF, and Suriname Progressive People's Party or PSV) [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 Henry Lothar ILLES

FAX:

[1] (202) 244-5878

consulate(s) general:

Miami

telephone:

[1] (202) 244-7488

chancery:

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

chief of mission:

Ambassador Daniel A. JOHNSON

embassy:

Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo

mailing address:

Department of State, 3390 Paramaribo Place, Washington, DC, 20521-3390

telephone:

[597] 472900

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

general assessment:

international facilities are good

domestic:

microwave radio relay network

international:

satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

total:

166 km (single-track)

standard gauge:

80 km 1.435-m gauge

note: Suriname railroads are not in operation (2001)

narrow gauge:

86 km 1.000-m gauge

total:

4,492 km

paved:

1,168 km

unpaved:

3,324 km (2000)

total:

2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,421 GRT/2,990 DWT

ships by type:

cargo 1, container 1 (2002 est.)

• area disputed by French Guiana between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa);
• area disputed by Guyana between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Koetari [Kutari] rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne);
• territorial sea boundary with Guyana is in dispute