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, 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

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:

0.8 male(s)/female

total population:

1.04 male(s)/female (2005 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 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 a two-thirds constitutional majority in the National Assembly after two votes, by a simple majority in the larger People's United Assembly (869 representatives from the national, local, and regional councils), for five-year terms;
• election last held 25 May 2005 (next to be held 25 May 2010)

• A-Combinatie (coalition of Brotherhood and Unity in Politics or BEP [Caprino ALENDY], General Interior Development Party or ABOP [Ronnie BRUNSWIJK], Progressive Laborers and Farmers Union or PALU [Jim HOK], Seeka [Paul ABENA]);
• Alternative-1 or A-1 (a coalition of Democratic Alternative 1991 or DA-91 [Winston JESSURUN], Democrats of the 21st Century or D-21 [Soewarto MOESTADJA], Nieuw Suriname or NS [Radjen Nanan PANDAY], Political Wing of the FAL or PVF [Jiwan SITAL], Trefpunt 2000 or T-2000 [Arti JESSURUN]);
• National Democratic Party or NDP [Desire BOUTERSE];
• New Front for Democracy and Development or NF (a coalition includes National Party Suriname or NPS (Ronald VENETIAAN], United Reform Party or VHP [Ram SARDJOE], Pertjaja Luhur or PL [Salam Paul SOMOHARDJO], Surinamese Labor Party or SPA [Siegfried GILDS]);
• Party for Democracy and Development in Unity or DOE [Marten Schalkwijk];
• People's Alliance for Progress or VVV (a coalition of Democratic National Platform 2000 or DNP-2000 [Jules WIJDENBOSCH], Grassroots Party for Renewal and Democracy or BVD [Tjan GOBARDHAN], Party for National Unity and Solidarity of the Highest Order or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA], Party for Progression, Justice, and Perserverance or PPRS [Renee KAIMAN], Pendawalima or PL [Raymond SAPOEN]);
• Union of Progressive Surinamers or UPS [Sheoradj PANDAY]

• Association of Indigenous Village Chiefs [Ricardo PANE];
• Association of Saramaccan Authorities or Maroon [Head Captain WASE];
• Women's Parliament Forum or PVF [Iris GILLIAD]

chief of mission:

Ambassador Henry Lothar ILLES

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 Marsha E. BARNES

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:

country code - 597; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

total:

4,492 km

paved:

1,168 km

unpaved:

3,324 km (2002)

total:

1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,078 GRT/1,214 DWT

by type:

cargo 1 (2005)

• area claimed by French Guiana between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa);
• Suriname claims a triangle of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne;
• Guyana seeks UNCLOS arbitration to resolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters