'Suriname
[1]', officially the 'Republic of Suriname', (often incorrectly written as Surinam, but rectified in most up-to-date dictionaries; in
Sranan Tongo 'Sranan') is a country in northern
South America. It was
formerly known as ''Nederlands Guyana'', ''
Netherlands Guiana'' or ''Dutch Guiana''. It lies in between
French Guiana to the east and
Guyana to the west. The southern border is shared with
Brazil and the northern border is the
Atlantic coast. The southernmost borders with Guyana and French Guiana are disputed (upper
Corantijn and
Marowijne rivers; the map shows the Guyana and French Guiana versions of the border). The country is the smallest
sovereign state in terms of
area and
population in South America.
History
Main articles: History of Suriname
The Suriname Indians (from whom the country's name derives) were the area's earliest known inhabitants. By the 16th century, however, the Surinen had been driven out by other South American Indians, namely the
Arawak and
Carib tribes.
On
October 12 1492,
Christopher Columbus encountered the New World. In 1499, the continent was named, discovering the Northern coast of
South America and Spain explored Suriname in 1593. In the
17th century, there were several attempts by the
Dutch and
English to colonize Suriname, with the Dutch eventually gaining stable control. The Netherlands, and therefore Suriname, had a system of slave labour, with slaves mostly of
African descent. The slaves were treated badly, and many escaped to the jungle. These Maroons (also known as "Djukas" or "Bakabusi Nengre") often returned to attack the plantations. Slave labour was only abolished in 1863, placing the Netherlands among the last European countries to do so. (Spanish-controlled Cuba and Puerto Rico had slaves until 1880 and 1873, respectively.) However, slaves were not released until 1873. After that, labourers were imported from the
Dutch East Indies (modern
Indonesia) and
India.
In 1954, Suriname gained self-government, with the Netherlands retaining control of defense and foreign affairs. In 1973, the local government, led by the NPK (a largely Creole party) started negotiations with the Dutch government about independence, which was granted on
25 November 1975. The first President of the country was
Johan Ferrier, with
Henck Arron (leader of the Suriname National Party) as Prime Minister. Roughly a third of the population emigrated to the Netherlands, fearing that the new country would not be able to survive. A series of military coups in 1980 led to the breakdown in Dutch–Suriname relations.
On
8 December 1982, some people were murdered as a result of a bad situation during that time,
Desi Bouterse, has recently admitted he might have had a hand in it.
In 1987 the first elections in years were held and a new constitution was written. A ''
coup'', the so-called 'telephone-coup' in 1990 interrupted this process, but elections were held again in 1991. With democracy, the Dutch government resumed aid. Since 1990, the four-party New Front coalition, led by
Ronald Venetiaan has held government. In recent years, developing the economy has been one of the most difficult issues for Suriname.
In the autumn of 2006, Suriname's army was dispatched to Nickerie in anticipation of the possible illegal immigration of
Guyanese who would be trying to escape potential violence during
Guyana's election on
August 28,
2006. The election proved peaceful and there was no immigration crisis.
Administrative divisions
Main articles: Districts of Suriname,
Resorts of Suriname
Suriname is further subdivided into 62 "resorte" (''ressorten'').
Geography
Main articles: Geography of Suriname
A map of Suriname with the disputed areas included
Political map of Suriname (1991)
Tailor's shop, Paramaribo, 1955.
The Suriname River, near the city of Paramaribo
Suriname is the smallest independent country in
South America. Situated on the
Guiana Shield, the country can be divided into two main geographic regions. The northern, lowland coastal area (roughly above the line Albina-Paranam-Wageningen) has been cultivated, and most of the population lives here. The southern part consists of tropical
rainforest and sparsely inhabited
savanna along the
border with
Brazil, covering about 80% of Suriname's land surface.
There are two main mountain ranges in Suriname: the Bakhuis Mountains and the Van Asch Van Wijck Mountains.
Julianatop is the highest mountain in the country at 1,286
metres (4,219 ft) above
sea level. Other mountains include
Tafelberg (1,026
m; 3,366
ft),
Mount Kasikasima (718 m; 2,356 ft),
Goliathberg (358 m; 1,174 ft) and
Voltzberg (240 m; 787 ft).
Lying near the
equator, Suriname has a
tropical climate, and temperatures do not vary a lot throughout the year. The year has two
wet seasons, from December to early February and from late April to mid-August.
Located in the northeast portion of the country is the
Brokopondo Reservoir, one of the largest reservoir lakes in the world. It was created in
1964 by the Afobakka dam (the
Brokopondo Project), built to provide
hydropower for the
bauxite industry (which consumes about 75% of the output) and for domestic consumption.
In the upper
Coppename River watershed, the
Central Suriname Nature Reserve is a UNESCO
World Heritage Site cited for its unspoiled rainforest
biodiversity. There are many national parks in the country: Galibi National Reserve, Coppename Manding National Park and Wia Wia NR along the coast, Brownsberg NR, Raleighvallen/Voltzeberg NR, Tafelberg NR and Eilerts de Haan NP in the centre and the Sipaliwani NR on the Brazilian border. In all, 12% of the country's land area are national parks and lakes.
Economy
Main articles: Economy of Suriname
The
economy of Suriname is dominated by the
bauxite industry, which accounts for more than 15% of
GDP and 70% of export earnings. Other main export products include
rice and
bananas. Suriname has recently started exploiting some of its sizeable
oil[2] and
gold[3] reserves. About a quarter of the people work in the
agricultural sector. The Surinamese economy is very dependent on other countries, with its main trade partners being the
Netherlands, the
United States and countries in the
Caribbean.
After assuming power in the fall of
1996, the
Wijdenbosch government ended the
structural adjustment program of the previous government, claiming it was unfair to the poorer elements of society.
Tax revenues fell as old taxes lapsed and the government failed to implement new tax alternatives. By the end of
1997, the allocation of new Dutch development funds was frozen as Surinamese Government relations with the Netherlands deteriorated. Economic growth slowed in
1998, with decline in the
mining,
construction, and
utility sectors. Rampant government expenditures, poor tax collection, a bloated civil service, and reduced foreign aid in
1999 contributed to the fiscal deficit, estimated at 11% of GDP. The government sought to cover this deficit through monetary expansion, which led to a dramatic increase in
inflation.
GDP (2006 est.): U.S. $2.11 billion.
Annual growth rate real GDP (2006 est.): 5.8%.
Per capita GDP (2006 est.): U.S. $4,000.
Inflation (2006): 5.6%.
Natural resources: Bauxite, gold, oil, iron ore, other minerals; forests; hydroelectric potential; fish and shrimp.
Agriculture: Products--rice, bananas, timber, and citrus fruits.
Industry: Types--alumina, oil, gold, fish, shrimp, lumber.
Trade (2005): Exports--U.S. $929.1 million: alumina, gold, crude oil, wood and wood products, rice, bananas, fish, and shrimp. Major markets--Norway (23.9%), U.S. (16.8%), Canada (16.4%), France (8.1%), Iceland (2.9%). Imports--$1.1 billion: capital equipment, petroleum, iron and steel products, agricultural products, and consumer goods. Major suppliers--U.S. (24.4%), Netherlands (14.5%), Trinidad and Tobago (10.5%), Japan (4.3%), China (5.4%), Brazil (3.6%).
Politics
Main articles: Politics of Suriname
The Republic of Suriname is a constitutional democracy based on the 1987 constitution.
The legislative branch of government consists of a 51-member unicameral National Assembly, simultaneously and popularly elected for a five-year term.
The president, who is elected for a five-year term by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly or, failing that, by a majority of the People's Assembly, heads the executive branch. If at least two-thirds of the National Assembly cannot agree to vote for one presidential candidate, a People's Assembly is formed from all National Assembly delegates and regional and municipal representatives who were elected by popular vote in the most recent national election. As head of government, the president appoints a 16-minister cabinet. There is no constitutional provision for removal or replacement of the president unless he resigns.
The judiciary is headed by the Court of Justice (Supreme Court). This court supervises the magistrate courts. Members are appointed for life by the president in consultation with the National Assembly, the State Advisory Council and the National Order of Private Attorneys. In April 2005, the regional Caribbean Court of Justice, based in Trinidad, was inaugurated. As the final court of appeal, it was intended to replace the London-based Privy Council.
The country is divided into 10 administrative districts, each headed by a district commissioner appointed by the president. The commissioner is similar to the governor of a United States-type state but is appointed and removed by the president.
Demographics
Main articles: Demographics of Suriname
The population growth of Suriname. Note the y-axis is the number inhabitants in thousands.
Suriname's population of 438,144 (July 2005 estimate) is made up of several distinct ethnic groups.
★ East Indians (known locally as
Hindoestanen) form the largest group at 37% of the population. They are descendants of
nineteenth-century contract workers from
India. They are from the Indian states of
Bihar and Eastern
Uttar Pradesh, in Northern India, along the
Nepalese border.
★ The Creoles form about 31% of the population. They are the descendants of
West African slaves, some mixed with
Dutch, other
whites,
Sephardi Jews and other
ethnic groups.
★ The
Javanese (descendents of contract workers from the former
Dutch East Indies on the island of Java, Indonesia) make up 15%.
★
Maroons (descendants of escaped
West African slaves) make up 10% and are divided into five main groups:
Aucans,
Kwinti,
Matawai,
Paramaccans and
Saramaccans.
★
Amerindians form 3% of the population (some say as low as 1%), the main groups being the
Akuriyo,
Arawak,
Carib/
Kaliña,
Trío and
Wayana.
★
Chinese are mainly descendants of the earliest
nineteenth-century contract workers.
★
Boeroes (derived from ''boer'', the
Dutch word for ''farmer'') are descendants of
Dutch nineteenth-century immigrant farmers.
★
Jews, both
Sephardic and
East European.
Because of the great number of ethnic groups in the country, there is no one main religion.
Christianity, both in the form of
Roman Catholicism and variations of
Protestantism, is dominant among Creoles and Maroons. Most of the Hindustani are
Hindu, but they also practice
Islam and
Christianity. The Javanese also practice both
Islam and
Christianity. All religions respect each other and live peacefully together. Despite the diversity, the makeup of Suriname's population is very similar to that of neighboring
Guyana, with the exception of the Indonesian population (which Guyana lacks).
French Guiana, as part of France, does not collect ethnic statistics.
The vast majority of people (about 90%) live in
Paramaribo or on the coast. There is also a significant Surinamese population in the
Netherlands. In 2005 there were 328,300 Surinamese people living in the Netherlands, which is about 2% of the total population of the Netherlands (compared to 438,144 in Suriname).
Languages
★
Dutch is the official language of Suriname.
★
Sranan Tongo serves as the
lingua franca, initially the native speech of the Creoles. ''Sranan Tongo'' is an
English language based
creole language (due to over twenty years of
British presence) with a large influence from
Dutch and several other languages, including
Spanish,
Portuguese, West African languages and several indigenous languages.
★ ''Sarnami
Hindustani'' is the third largest language of the nation. Sarnami Hindustani is a form of
Bihari, which is a dialect of modern India's
Hindi language. It is spoken by the descendants of
British Asian contract workers.
★
Javanese is spoken by the descendants of Javanese contract workers.
★
Maroon languages are somewhat intelligible with
Sranan Tongo. Some are based on
Portuguese rather than
English. Maroon languages include
Saramaka,
Paramakan,
Ndyuka or ''Aukan'',
Kwinti and
Matawai.
★
Amerindian languages are spoken by the Amerindians of Suriname. These languages include
Carib and
Arawak.
★
Hakka Chinese and Poenti
Cantonese is spoken by the descendants of the Chinese contract workers.
★
Mandarin is spoken by the 'new' Chinese contract workers.
★ Additionally,
English and, to a lesser extent,
Spanish are also used, especially at tourist-oriented facilities or shops.
Culture
Main articles: Roman Catholicism in Suriname,
Music of Suriname,
Hinduism in South America,
Islam in Suriname
Waterfront houses in Paramaribo, 1955.
Due to the mix of population groups, Surinamese culture is very diverse.
Ethnicity/race: East Indians (Hindustanis) 37%, Creole (mixed white and black) 31%, Javanese 15%, “Bush Negroes” (also known as Maroons) 10%, Amerindian 2%, Chinese 2%, white 1%, other 2%
Miscellaneous
★ Suriname (referred to as 'Surinam') is the setting for the largest part of
Aphra Behn's classic novella,
Oroonoko.
★ The
1962 film ''The Spiral Road'', directed by
Robert Mulligan and starring
Rock Hudson, was filmed in Suriname (then Dutch Guiana).
★ Chapter 19 of
Voltaire's classic ''
Candide'' is set in Suriname.
★ Some of the greatest footballers to represent the
Netherlands, such as
Frank Rijkaard,
Ruud Gullit,
Patrick Kluivert,
Clarence Seedorf,
Aron Winter,
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Stanley Menzo and
Edgar Davids are of Surinamese descent. Davids in particular has written of his passionate pride in his Surinamese heritage and his love of attending football matches there. There are a number of local heroes in other sports as well, like
Primraj Binda, best known as the athlete who dominated the
10 km for nearly a decade,
Steven Vismale and
Letitia Vriesde. Another notable track athlete from Suriname was
Tommy Asinga.
★ A
European mercenary by the name of
Karl Penta organised a successful campaign to destabilise the military regime that ruled Suriname under the dictator,
Dési Bouterse.
★
Anthony Nesty is the only person to win a medal (for swimming) for Suriname at the
Olympics. Originally from Trinidad, not Suriname, he now lives in Miami, Florida, USA.
★ In the film ''
The Silence of the Lambs'' Suriname is mentioned as the source of a shipment of
Death's-head Hawkmoth.
★ Suriname is featured in the TV series ''
E-Ring''.
★
Golden Globe and
Emmy winning American actor
Jimmy Smits (born in
New York City in
1955) was born of a Surinamese father, Cornelis Smits, who immigrated from Dutch Guiana
★ Mistakenly referred to as being "a country in
Africa" by host
Mike Rowe on his popular
Discovery Channel show ''
Dirty Jobs'', and a country in
Asia in the film
The Silence of the Lambs
See also
★
Boy Scouts van Suriname
★
Foreign relations of Suriname
★
List of cities in Suriname
★
Military of Suriname
★
Transportation in Suriname
★
Corantijn Basin - archaeological site
References
1. ISO 3166
2. Rigzone ''Staatsolie Launches Tender for 3 Offshore Blocks ''
3. Cambior ''Development of the Gross Rosebel Mine in Suriname''
External links
★
★
★
★
Cabinet of the president of the republic Suriname
★
Suriname's Search Engine
★
Encyclopaedia Britannica - Suriname Country Page
★
The Suriname National Assembly
★
ANDA Suriname (Surinamese portal)
★
Surizoek.com - Suriname search engine
★
Suriname's Central Bank
★
Dictionaries in some of Suriname's languages
★
Andre Mosis, Kingbotho, researcher, percussionist
★
Details on the various groups of Maroons or "Bush Negros" in Suriname
★
Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection
★
Centrale Bureau Burgerzaken
★
Central Suriname Nature Reserve
★
Central STINASU - Foundation for Nature Conservation in Suriname
★
Constitution of Suriname
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