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NAVIGATION
Republic of Suriname
Republiek Suriname
former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
GOVERNMENT
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Suriname
conventional short form: Suriname local short form: Suriname former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana local long form: Republiek Suriname |
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Government type:
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constitutional democracy |
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Capital:
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Paramaribo |
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Administrative divisions:
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10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica |
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Independence:
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25 November 1975 (from Netherlands) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 25 November (1975) |
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Constitution:
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ratified 30 September 1987 |
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Legal system:
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based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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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 |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NF 33, MC 10, DNP 2000 3, DA '91 2, PVF 2, PALU 1 note: widespread demonstrations during the summer of 1999 led to the call for elections a year early elections: last held 5 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2005) |
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Judicial branch:
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Court of Justice (justices are nominated for life) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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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] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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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] |
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International organization participation:
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ACP, Caricom, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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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 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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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 |
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Flag description:
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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 |
ECONOMY
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Economy - overview:
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The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for more than 15% of GDP and 70% of export earnings. Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term will depend on renewed commitment to responsible monetary and fiscal policies and to the introduction of structural reforms to liberalize markets and promote competition. The government of Ronald VENETIAAN has begun an austerity program, raised taxes, and attempted to control spending. However, in 2002, President VENETIAAN agreed to a large pay raise for civil servants, which threatens his earlier gains in stabilizing the economy. The Dutch Government has agreed to restart the aid flow, which will allow Suriname to access international development financing. The short-term economic outlook depends on the government's ability to control inflation and on the development of projects in the bauxite and gold mining sectors. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $1.5 billion (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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1.2% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $3,500 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 13%
industry: 22% services: 65% (2001) |
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Population below poverty line:
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70% (2002 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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17% (2002) |
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Labor force:
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100,000 |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% |
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Unemployment rate:
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17% (2000) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $393 million
expenditures: $403 million, including capital expenditures of $34 million (1997 est.) |
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Industries:
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bauxite and gold mining, alumina production, oil, lumbering, food processing, fishing |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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6.5% (1994 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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1.959 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 25.2%
hydro: 74.8% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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1.822 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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10,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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10,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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37 million bbl (January 2002 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens; forest products; shrimp |
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Exports:
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$445 million f.o.b. (2002) |
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Exports - commodities:
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alumina, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas |
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Exports - partners:
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US 30.9%, Norway 18.8%, Netherlands 9.2%, France, Japan, UK (2001) |
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Imports:
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$300 million f.o.b. (2002) |
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Imports - commodities:
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capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods |
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Imports - partners:
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US 58.5%, Netherlands 27.6%, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, UK, Brazil (2001) |
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Debt - external:
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$321 million (2002 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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Netherlands provided $37 million for project and program assistance, European Development Fund $4 million, Belgium $2 million (1998) |
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Currency:
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Surinamese guilder (SRG) |
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Currency code:
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SRG |
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Exchange rates:
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Surinamese guilders per US dollar - 2,346.75 (2002), 2,178.5 (2001), 1,322.47 (2000), 859.437 (1999), 401 (1998)
note: during 1998, the exchange rate splintered into four distinct rates; in January 1999 the government floated the guilder, but subsequently fixed it when the black-market rate plunged; the government currently allows trading within a band of SRG 500 around the official rate |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |