Large rivers and lakes of Suriname. Suriname country description. Religion in Suriname
is a country in the northeast of South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Brazil to the south, and Guyana to the west. In the north it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean.
The name of the country comes from the ethnonym of the tribe of local Indians - Surin.
Official name: Republic of Suriname
Capital: Paramaribo
The area of the land: 163.3 thousand sq. km
Total population: 487 thousand people
Administrative division: The state is divided into 10 districts.
Form of government: Republic.
Head of State: President elected for a term of 5 years.
Composition of the population: 37% - Indians, 31% - Creoles, 15% - Javanese, 2% - Maroons, 2% - Chinese, 2% - Europeans.
Official language: Dutch. Sranan Tongo (the most common language of interethnic communication, based on English with borrowings from many languages - the so-called "bastard English"), Hindi, Javanese, Chinese.
Religion: 47% are Christians, 27% are Hindus, 20% are Muslims.
Internet domain: .sr
Mains voltage: ~127 V, 60 Hz
Phone country code: +597
Climate
Subequatorial, hot and constantly humid. The average air temperature is around +26°C and changes little throughout the year. Even at night, the temperature rarely drops below +24°C, and in the dry season it can reach +36°C in the shade. Constant northeast trade winds bring some coolness, but this is felt only in the coastal zone.
Precipitation is 2300-3000 mm per year, and rainy are about 200 days a year. The rainy season usually lasts from November to January and from May to July (during this time the rains often cause severe flooding). Although Suriname lies outside the hurricane zone, during the rainy season, powerful downpours with "sibibusi" winds (literally - "forest broom", such rains really often cut off almost all the foliage from the trees), during which up to 300 mm of water falls in a few hours, are not uncommon.
Geography
The Republic of Suriname is located in the northeastern part of South America. In the east it borders with French Guiana, in the south - with Brazil, in the west - with Guyana, in the north it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean.
Almost the entire territory of Suriname is a swampy coastal plain of about 80 km. wide, bordered by the Central Plateau. In the south are the mountains of the Guiana Plateau, overgrown with dense subequatorial forest. The total area of the country is 163.3 thousand square meters. km.
The country is crossed by four major rivers flowing in a northerly direction: Koranteyn, along which part of the border with Guyana passes; Koppenam, Gran Rio, Suriname and Marowijne (the latter forms the border with French Guiana).
For agriculture and cargo transportation great importance they also have the rivers Kottika and Commeweine, which flow into the Suriname River near its mouth, the Saramacca, which flows into Koppenam, also near its mouth, and the Nickerie, a tributary of the Korantein.
Because of the rapids, ships can only move within the coastal lowlands, so until recently, the southern regions of the country were practically isolated from the outside world.
Flora and fauna
Vegetable world
The Guiana Plateau is composed of ancient crystalline rocks. The surface is largely covered by tropical rainforest.
The country is very diverse vegetable world. There are forests in the mountainous regions and on the hills. Here there are oak, pine and birch groves, white acacias, poplars, willows, as well as a riot of scarlet poppies.
Evergreen trees and shrubs, pines and alpine pines, mastic trees, palms, holm and cork oaks, cypresses, cacti and agaves grow on the coast, plantations of cultivated plants: almonds, olives, citrus fruits, pomegranates.
In the Alps, hornbeam, chestnut, ash, and beech grow in deciduous forests. Among the fruit trees are vineyards, crops of rye, potatoes, coniferous and beech forests are located high in the mountains: fir, various types of spruce and pine, as well as alpine meadows.
Animal world
Of the representatives of the animal world, monkeys, jaguar, puma, tapir, anteater, small deer, armadillo, crocodile, a large number of birds, snakes live on the territory of Suriname. Landmark of the country is the endemic Surinamese frog.
Attractions
- Brownsburg National Park
- Suriname Museum
- Nickerie
- Jules Weydenbos Bridge
Banks and currency
Surinam dollar (SRD, S$), equal to 100 cents. Since January 1, 2004, the Surinamese dollar, pegged to the US dollar, has replaced the previously used Surinamese guilder. In circulation are banknotes in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 dollars and coins in denominations of 250, 100, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cent.
Although the Surinamese dollar is considered the only legal tender in the country, you can still find coins in circulation in guilders (their current denomination should be calculated based on the proportion of 1000 guilders to 1 Surinamese dollar), which are exchanged at the offices of the Central Bank of the country. Also, almost everywhere you can pay in US dollars.
Banks are open on weekdays from 7.00 to 14.00.
You can exchange currency in banks and exchange offices. It is not recommended to change currency on the street (there is a high risk of fraud), as well as in hotels, where the exchange rate is usually much lower than in exchange offices or banks. Currency exchange in many provincial banks is often time-consuming and requires a number of documents. Almost all stores and institutions accept US dollars at the normal rate, many stores even list prices in both Surinamese and US dollars, although this is illegal.
Credit cards are accepted in most restaurants, almost all hotels and many stores (American Express is the most widely used, MasterCard and Visa are slightly less). ATM ATMs are quite widespread in the capital - they can be found both in banks and in post offices in the central regions.
Traveler's checks can be cashed at banks. To avoid additional costs due to fluctuations in the exchange rate, it is recommended to bring checks in euros (they are accepted in all hotels and only at the official rate) or US dollars.
Useful information for tourists
In restaurants, it is customary to tip approximately 10% of the bill (note that waiters are a poorly paid category of staff, so if you can afford to tip, the quality of service will be better and the friendliness of the staff will be sincere).
Taxi drivers do not require tips, although it is possible to round the fare for convenience or negotiate it (and especially the type of currency) in advance.
Shopping in the markets, especially handicrafts, will be accompanied by mandatory bargaining, it is also possible to bargain in hotels, but only during the off-season or for long stays.
It is forbidden to export, without special permission, objects and things of historical and artistic value, especially those found at the bottom of the sea, non-canned meat products, products from the shell of a sea turtle and feathers and skins of tropical birds and animals.
The coastline of Suriname has a length of 360 km; from north to south, the country stretches for more than 400 km. The population of the country is 428 thousand people (1998). The capital and the only major city is Paramaribo (180 thousand inhabitants). Other significant cities are Nieuw Nickerie, Albina and Mungo.
Nature.
On the territory of Suriname, one can distinguish the coastal Guiana lowland, the savannah belt and the tropical forest belt of the Guiana Plateau.
The Guiana lowland, from 25 km in the east to 80 km in the west, is composed of alluvial and marine sands and clays. The surface is flat, marshy, in some places crossed by coastal ridges and dissected by rivers. Separate forest areas have been preserved. Small centers of agriculture are confined to coastal ramparts and drained areas of marshes.
To the south, on the slopes of the Guiana Plateau, a narrow belt of savannahs is common. The soils here are infertile, agriculture is poorly developed and has a consumer character.
The Guiana Plateau is composed of ancient crystalline rocks. The surface is largely covered by tropical rainforest. Watersheds stand out against the general smoothed background. mountain ranges and ridges, especially Mount Wilhelmina with the highest point of the country - Mount Juliana (1230 m). On the southern slopes of the highlands, partly located within Suriname, savannahs reappear.
The country is crossed by four large rivers flowing in a northerly direction: Koranteyn, along which part of the border with Guyana, Koppename, Gran Rio, Suriname and Marowijne (the latter forms the border with French Guiana) passes. For agriculture and transportation of goods, the Kottika and Commeweine rivers, which flow into the Suriname River near its mouth, the Saramakka, which flows into Koppenam, also near the mouth, and the Nickerie, a tributary of the Korantein, are also of great importance. Because of the rapids, ships can only move within the coastal lowlands, so until recently, the southern regions of the country were practically isolated from the outside world.
The climate of Suriname is subequatorial, humid and hot. The average monthly temperatures range from 23° to 31° C. The average annual rainfall is 2300 mm in the plains and more than 3000 mm in the mountains. There are two wet seasons (from mid-November to February and from late March to mid-July) and two dry seasons (shorter from February to mid-March and longer from August to mid-November).
population and society.
In the 1990s, Suriname's annual population growth averaged 0.9%. About 90% of the population is concentrated in the coastal zone, primarily in Paramaribo and its suburbs. In the interior, the population density is extremely low.
The birth rate in Suriname tends to decrease - from 26 per 1000 in 1985-1990 to 18.87 per 1000 in 2004. The death rate is 6.99 per 1000. Thus, the natural increase of the population, 1.7% per year, is one among the lowest in Latin America. At the same time, the actual population growth is significantly reduced due to emigration, which increased sharply after 1950. By 1970, its level was 2% per year, by 1975, when the country gained independence, it reached 10%. A new wave of emigration rose after the political upheavals of 1980 and 1982. Total number emigrants to the Netherlands by 1987 reached 180 thousand. In 1998, the emigration rate was 9 people per 1000. At the same time, immigration into the country remains very small.
Surinamese society is characterized by ethnic stratification. According to 1997 data, 37% of the population of Suriname were Indians, descendants of immigrants who came to the country in the 19th century; 31% are blacks and mulattos, who are called Creoles in Suriname; 15.3% are from Indonesia; 10.3% - the so-called. "forest negros", descendants of runaway slaves living in the interior of the country; 2.6% - Indians, the indigenous inhabitants of the country; 1.7% are Chinese; 1% are Europeans and 1.1% are representatives of other ethnic groups.
Creoles, who make up two-thirds of the urban population, are settled mainly in Paramaribo and its suburbs. Indians are concentrated in the most productive agricultural areas. They make up less than a quarter of the urban population. Indonesians are located in the less fertile agricultural areas, they form the majority only in Commeweine district, where they are used as wage laborers on plantations. Indians and "forest blacks" mainly live in the interior of the country.
The ethnic diversity of Suriname is also manifested in the language. The official language is Dutch, but many Surinamese do not consider it their mother tongue, and some do not know it at all. The language of interethnic communication was born in the Negro-mulatto environment, the Shranan Tongo language, in other words, Negro English, or bastard English, also called Toki-Toki or Surinamese. At least 16 other languages are spoken in the country, including Hindi, Indonesian, Chinese, two "forest black" languages - Aukan and Saramackan, and at least four Indian languages.
The same diversity is observed in confessions. Christianity is represented by Protestant (mainly Moravian, 25.2%) and Roman Catholic (22.8% adherents) churches. Indians practice Hinduism (27.6%) or Islam (19.6%). Most Indonesians are Islamists, part of the population are Catholics. In Suriname, there are supporters of Judaism and Confucianism. Negroes practice syncretic African-American cults, which include elements of Christianity and pagan rites of healing and evocation of spirits.
The class structure of Surinamese society is very blurred. The struggle for economic and political dominance unfolds between different ethnic groups that dominate some areas of activity. At the same time, class stratification is also observed within ethnic groups. So, in the Negro-mulatto environment, a narrow stratum of specialists stands out who have received European education, and government employees, as well as a wide underclass of unskilled or unskilled workers. Indians in the first half of the 20th century established control over agriculture, and after the Second World War began to actively master urban professions and now compete with other ethnic groups in all areas of the economy. Indonesians generally remain on the sidelines, forming a stratum of agricultural wage laborers. The Chinese, predominantly employed in the urban retail trade, belong to the middle and upper classes, the "forest blacks" and the Indians living in the wilderness represent the marginalized groups of the population.
In the 1980s, Suriname experienced a reduction in welfare programs. The Netherlands and some religious communities bear the cost of medical care for the population. The average life expectancy in Suriname in 1998 was 70.6 years (68 for men and 73.3 for women).
Suriname has declared compulsory education for children between the ages of 6 and 12. Economic difficulties have a negative impact on the quality of education. In 1993, 94% of children attended primary schools. At the University of Suriname (founded in 1968) and other higher educational institutions in 1992 there were 4400 students. Competently 93% of the adult population. If in 1975 there were 7 daily newspapers in the country, then at the end of the 1990s there were only two (“West” and “Ware Tide”), which are published in the Dutch language.
Government and politics.
In 1975, when Suriname gained independence, a constitution was adopted, according to which the country was proclaimed a parliamentary republic, the former governor-general remained the formal president of the country, and the real executive power passed to the cabinet of ministers. As a result of the military coup in 1980, the constitution was abolished. The new constitution, approved by general referendum in 1987, provides for the popular election for a five-year term of 51 deputies of the legislative body - the National Assembly, which in turn elects the president (head of state) and the vice president, who heads the cabinet, who is appointed by the president himself. The President forms the State Council of 15 people - representatives of political forces, trade unions, business and military circles. The Council of State makes recommendations to the Cabinet and has the power to veto laws coming from the National Assembly. In practice, Lieutenant Colonel Desi Bouterse, who led the coup d'état in 1980 and ruled the country until 1987, enjoyed almost unlimited power as Councilor of State, although his power was somewhat limited after his resignation from the post of commander-in-chief of the army in April 1993.
The judiciary of Suriname consists of a Supreme Court composed of six judges appointed for life by the President and three lower courts. Administratively, the country is divided into 10 districts under the administration of the administrative representatives of the President: Brokopondo, Commeweine, Koroni, Maroweine, Nikeri, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini and Wanika.
After the Second World War, three political parties were formed in Suriname: the National Party of Suriname (founded in 1946), expressing the interests of the small and middle national bourgeoisie of Creole origin, the Indonesian Party of National Unity and Solidarity (1947) and the United Hindustani Party (1949, since 1969 called the Progressive Reform Party, which unites Indians. These essentially ethnic parties were banned after coup d'état, committed by Bouterse in 1980. In 1985 they came out of hiding and two years later formed a coalition Front for Democracy and Development, led by Ronald Venetian. The Front initially opposed the National Democratic Party (NDP), founded by Bouterse in 1987. In the same year, the Suriname Labor Party was formed, which in 1991 joined the Front, which won the 1987 elections. The Front briefly lost power during a military coup in December 1990 , but in the 1991 elections he again won and brought Venetian to the presidency. In 1996, the NDP entered into a coalition with the Indonesian Party and a number of minor parties and led to the victory of its candidate in the elections. Jules Weidenbosch became the new president.
Economy.
The country's economic development was hampered by a small population, lack of well-maintained roads, and political instability. In 1996, Suriname's GDP was $523 million, i.e. $1,306 per capita (GDP reached $1.08 billion in the 1980s). The decline in GDP was due to guerrilla warfare in bauxite mining areas, economic mismanagement, and falling demand and prices for bauxite and aluminium, Suriname's main export products. Bauxite mining, which previously accounted for 80% of exports and 30% of GDP annually, fell in 1997 to 70% of exports and 15% of GDP. In Suriname, large-scale development of bauxite deposits began after the Second World War: then more than 75% of bauxite was exported from Suriname to the United States. Currently, Suriname mined approx. 4 million tons of bauxite per year, and it is one of the ten largest producers of bauxite in the world. The main deposits are concentrated in Paranam and Mungo in the northeast of the country. The bauxite mining industry is controlled by American and Dutch companies. Bauxite mining is highly mechanized, so less than 5% of the working population is employed in this industry. In the 1990s, Suriname exported approx. 300 kg of gold. Deposits of iron ore, copper, nickel, platinum, manganese and kaolin have been explored, but they are not being developed.
In 1981, oil fields were discovered in Suriname. In 1997, its production reached 300 thousand tons and continues to grow at a rapid pace. About 40% of crude oil is exported, the rest goes to energy service for the production of alumina and aluminum. Thus, Suriname has sharply reduced its dependence on other energy sources and imported energy carriers (oil products and coal). In the 1960s, a hydroelectric power station was built in Afobak, providing cheap electricity that is used in the production of aluminum. The country has a number of public and private thermal power plants.
The industry of Suriname as a whole is underdeveloped, so the country imports many essential industrial products, although it provides itself with food. In addition to bauxite mining and processing, Suriname produces beverages, tobacco products, footwear and cement.
60% of all agricultural production in Suriname is rice, mainly from the Nickerie district. Under this culture, approx. 50 thousand hectares. The largest rice plantation is located near Wageningen, it is mostly Indonesian workers. However, in general, small farms predominate. Bananas, palm oil, coconuts, citrus fruits, coffee, beef, chickens stand out among the agricultural products of Suriname. Sugar cane, which for centuries was the basis of the colonial economy, now occupies a very modest place. The importance of shrimp and timber harvesting is growing.
Between 1983 and 1988, the official unemployment rate was 13.2%. In fact, this figure was even higher, especially in Paramaribo, where seasonal agricultural workers flocked in search of work. Unemployment continued to be a serious problem in the 1990s, marked by an economic downturn. In 1998, the share of employees was 49% of the working population (100 thousand), of which 35% are employed in the private sector and 16% in state-owned companies. In the 1980s, due to the persistent budget deficit, the country's foreign exchange reserves were significantly reduced. The situation has improved since 1988, when Suriname began to receive financial assistance from the Netherlands, the US, the EU, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.
In 1996, Suriname's export earnings were $457.7 million and import expenditures were $415.5 million. After bauxite, alumina, and aluminum, rice, timber, bananas, and shrimp were important exports. The latter are exported mainly to the USA (25%), the Netherlands and the EU countries. Suriname imports engineering products, oil, steel and rolled products, agricultural products and consumer goods. 50% of imports come from the US and the rest from Brazil, the EU and the Caribbean.
Story.
The indigenous inhabitants of Suriname lived in separate tribes in small settlements, earning their living by hunting and primitive agriculture, the basis of which was the cultivation of root crops, mainly cassava. The coastal tribes spoke the languages of the Arawak family, the Indians of the interior - the Caribbean languages. The coast of Suriname was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1498 during the third expedition to the New World. However, for a long time the Spaniards and the Portuguese did not try to colonize the area. Only at the end of the 16th century. the British, French and Dutch began to take an interest in Guiana, as rumors spread that the fabulously rich country of El Dorado was located there. The Europeans never found gold, but they founded trading posts along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.
The first permanent settlement was founded on the Suriname River by Dutch merchants in 1551. At the end of the 16th century. Suriname was captured by the Spaniards, in 1630 by the British, who then, under a peace treaty in Breda (1667), ceded Suriname to Holland in exchange for New Amsterdam (now New York). Among the first colonists of Suriname were many Dutch and Italian Jews who fled from the persecution of the Inquisition. In 1685, on the Suriname River, 55 km southeast of modern Paramaribo, they founded the colony of Yodensavanne (lit. Jewish Savannah). Until 1794, Suriname was under the control of the Dutch West India Company and since then has remained a colony of the Netherlands (with the exception of two short periods in 1799-1802 and 1804-1814, when it was captured by the British).
The basis of the economy of the colony was the plantation economy. Slaves were brought in from Africa to work on the plantations. Along with the main crop, sugar cane, coffee and chocolate trees, indigo, cotton, and cereals were grown on plantations. The plantation economy expanded until 1785. By this time, there were 590 plantations in Suriname; of these, 452 cultivated sugar cane and other cash crops, and the rest cultivated crops for domestic consumption. At the very end of the 18th century. the colony began to decline. By 1860 there were only 87 sugarcane plantations left, and by 1940 only four.
In Suriname, as in other sugar-producing colonies that used the labor of slaves, there was a sharp stratification of society. At the highest rung of the social hierarchy was a very small layer of Europeans, mostly colonial officials, large merchants and a few planters. The European population was dominated by the Dutch, but there were also Germans, French and British. Below this elite was a layer of free Creoles, which included descendants from marriages of Europeans with slaves and slaves who received or bought freedom. The lowest and most numerous category of society were slaves. Among them, they distinguished between slaves brought from Africa legally until 1804 and illegally until 1820, and slaves born in Suriname.
The system of slavery in Suriname was characterized by extreme cruelty. Slaves had no rights. Colonial laws were intended to give slave owners unlimited power over slaves and completely isolate the latter from the free population. Therefore, the slaves, at every opportunity, fled from their masters into the interior of the country and created settlements in the forests (“forest negros”).
From the beginning of the 19th century in Europe, the campaign for the abolition of slavery was expanding. After the British (1833) and then the French (1848) abolished slavery in their colonies, the Dutch decided to follow suit. However, it was feared that the freed slaves would not want to work on the plantations. Therefore, following the abolition of slavery, it was decided that the slaves should work on the former plantations for 10 years for a minimum wage. The decree on the abolition of slavery was adopted in 1863. After that, the freed slaves were faced with the need to feed themselves and their families and poured into Paramaribo, where labor was better paid and it was possible to get an education. There they replenished the middle Creole layer of society, becoming servants, workers, merchants, and their descendants even teachers. primary schools and petty officials. At the end of the 19th century some Creoles moved into the interior of the country, where they engaged in gold mining and rubber collection. In the 1920s, Creoles found work in bauxite mines, and also emigrated to Curaçao (where they worked at oil refineries), the Netherlands and the USA.
In search of labor for the plantations, the colonial authorities began to recruit residents of Asian countries under the contract. In the period 1853-1873, 2.5 thousand Chinese were brought to Suriname, in 1873-1922 - 34 thousand Indians, in 1891-1939 - 33 thousand Indonesians. The descendants of these migrants now make up the majority of Suriname's population. During the Second World War, there were many American soldiers in Suriname, along with them, capital appeared to serve the US military bases.
For a long time, Suriname was governed by a governor appointed by the metropolis. Under him, there were two councils elected by local electors and approved by the Dutch authorities. In 1866, these councils were replaced by parliament, but the governor retained the right to veto any decisions of this body. Initially, a strict property and educational qualification was in effect to participate in the elections, but as it was softened, planters began to penetrate the parliament, and after 1900 the majority in it was already made up of representatives of the upper and middle strata of Creole society. However, the electorate did not exceed 2% of the population until 1949, when universal suffrage was introduced.
In 1954 Suriname received autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. At the same time, the metropolis still appointed the governor and controlled the defense and foreign policy country, and the Surinamese elected parliament and government.
After 1949, in parties organized along ethnic lines, big influence purchased by the Creoles. They formed a coalition with the Indonesians, who also supported the independence of Suriname, won the 1973 elections and formed a government led by Prime Minister Henk Arron, leader of the National Party of Suriname (NPS). Negotiations with the Netherlands were successful, and on November 25, 1975, the independence of Suriname was proclaimed. After that ok. 40,000 Asian Surinamese emigrated to the Netherlands. The former metropolis pledged to provide financial assistance for 15 years young state in the amount of 1.5 billion dollars. Before independence, two more political parties formed in Suriname: the Indian Progressive Reform Party and the Indonesian National Unity and Solidarity Party.
Arron, re-elected in 1977, was accused of corruption and removed from office in 1980 in a military coup by the group army officers led by Lieutenant Colonel Desi Bouterse. The National Military Council came to power, which dissolved parliament by February 1982, repealed the constitution, and dismissed the last representative of the civilian government, President Henk Chin Ah Sen. The latter, together with thousands of Surinamese, emigrated to the Netherlands, where, in order to fight the dictatorial regime, he formed the Movement for the Liberation of Suriname. The economic crisis was added to the political crisis, caused by the fall in world prices for bauxite. Economic losses were only partly compensated by money transfers from emigrants to their homeland.
After the military tortured and killed 15 known citizens of the country, the Netherlands stopped financial assistance to Suriname. Under domestic and international pressure, the National Military Council in 1985 authorized the formation of a new parliament and lifted the ban on political parties. After that, Arron entered the National War Council, renamed the Supreme Council.
In July 1986, with the support of the Movement for the Liberation of Suriname, several hundred lightly armed "forest blacks" revolted in the south and east of the country. Led by Ronnie Brunswijk, Bouterse's former personal bodyguard, they formed the Surinamese Liberation Army, designed to restore constitutional order to the country. Within a few months, they destabilized the work of bauxite mines and oil refineries. Bouterse accused the government of the Netherlands and Surinamese emigrants, among others, of aiding the rebels, which led to the rupture of diplomatic relations between Suriname and the Netherlands in early 1987. The Surinamese army tried to suppress the uprising with cruel measures, often violating the rights of its own citizens and foreigners. This policy caused widespread discontent, and the population demanded reforms. In a referendum in September 1987, 93% of voters voted in favor of the new constitution.
In the parliamentary elections in November 1987, representatives of the Bouterse party received only three seats out of 51, while the multi-ethnic Front for Democracy and Development received 40 seats. In January 1988, Ramsevak Shankar, a businessman of Indian origin, became president, and Arron became vice president and prime minister. Bouterse retained some power as head of the five-member Military Council. Shankar's policy was aimed at improving relations with the Netherlands and the United States. The Netherlands again began to provide assistance to Suriname, promising to pay 721 million dollars over 7-8 years. Bauxite mining resumed.
However, in December 1990 the military removed the civilian government and dissolved the National Assembly. Under pressure from the world community, the military was forced in May 1991 to hold elections with the participation of international observers. In these elections, a coalition called the New Front for Democracy, which included three traditional ethnic parties, the Front for Democracy and Development and the Labor Party of Suriname, gained 30 votes in parliament. In September, Ronald R. Venetian, candidate of the National Party of Suriname, took over as president; the leader of the Indian Progressive Reform Party, Yul R. Ayodiya, became Vice President and Prime Minister. Colonel Bauterse remained commander-in-chief of the army.
In August 1992, Venetian reached peace agreements with the Surinamese rebels. liberation army. Bouterse was replaced as commander-in-chief by Arti Gorre. In the first half of the 1990s, Suriname, along with some other Latin American countries, embarked on the path of liberal economic reforms. Venetian managed to curb inflation and improve relations with the Netherlands, which increased financial aid to Suriname and investment in the economy. However, union opposition and the collapse of the New Front coalition led to Venetian's defeat in the May 1996 elections. Indonesian parties and with a number of small parties approved their candidate Weidenbosch as president. At the same time, the coalition turned out to be rather weak, and in 1997-1998 the new government was unable to put its legislative program into effect. Behind Weidenbosch stood Bouterse. Under him, Suriname became the main transshipment base for drugs on the way from Brazil, Venezuela and Colombia to the Netherlands and the United States. The police were led by Bouterse's closest associate, Colonel Etienne Burenveen, who was convicted in Miami in the 1980s and served five years in prison for dealing cocaine. Another Bouterse employee, Henk Goodschalk, became head of the Central Bank of Suriname. In August 1998, at the request of the Dutch government, Interpol issued an arrest warrant for Bouterse on charges of drug dealing and financial fraud. President Jules Weidenbosch commits many serious economic and political mistakes and leads Suriname to a state of complete instability. Allegations of corruption against this president are not unfounded.
Suriname in the 21st century
In the elections held on May 25, 2000, the New Front won. In August 2000, Ronald Venetian was elected President of Suriname for the second time. He was to restore economic stability and increase foreign investment in the country. Jules Ajodia became prime minister.
Ronald Venetian inherited from his predecessor a devalued currency, high inflation, a collapsing healthcare system, and a bloated bureaucracy. Urgent and emergency measures were taken to curb inflation and stabilize the exchange rate. The government of Ronald Venetian managed to cut government spending and stabilize the banana industry with the help of international loans.
In August 2005, Ronald Venetian was re-elected President of Suriname. Although neither Venetian nor his new political rival, Rabindra Parmessar, received enough votes in Parliament to become president, the candidacy of Ronald Venetian was left to the discretion of the regional bodies. 560 deputies out of 879 voted for him.
In the south and washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean in the north.
Suriname is the smallest country in South America by area. The country can be conditionally divided into two parts: north and south. In the north, off the coast of the Atlantic, most of the population lives, the land is cultivated. In the south, there is almost no population, the territory is covered with savannah and impenetrable tropical rainforests.
The rivers in the country are full of water, but rapids. Navigation on them for large and medium-sized vessels is possible only at the mouths. Small boats can travel up to 300 km upstream some rivers, linking
inaccessible hinterland with the coast.
The Suriname River is one of the main rivers of the country (flows into the Atlantic Ocean). Its source is located in the Guiana Highlands near the mountains of Wilhelmina. The length of the river is 480 km. It has several rapids and dams. The Brokopondo Reservoir, created in 1964 to provide electricity to the bauxite factories, divides the river in two.
Climate
Located near the equator, Suriname has a hot and humid climate. The air temperature practically does not change from season to season (within 2 °C), the average annual value in Paramaribo is +26 °C.
There are two rainy seasons a year: from December to early February and from late April to mid-August. On average, 2000-2500 mm of precipitation falls during 200 rainy days per year.
Strong trade winds.
Population
Population of Suriname- 487 thousand people (2010).
Urban population – 75 %.
Literacy - 92% of men, 87% of women.
Average life expectancy is 66 years for men, 73 years for women.
Infection with the immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - 2.4% (in 2007).
Ethno-racial composition:
Indians - 37%Creoles (mostly mulattoes) - 31%
Indonesians - 15%
Maroons ("forest blacks") - 10%
Indians - 2%
Chinese - 2%
Whites - 1%
Others - 2%
Christians (Protestants and Catholics) - 40.7%, Hindus - 19.9%, Muslims - 13.5%, others 15%.
Languages:
Dutch (official), English (colloquial), Sranan Tongo (Surinamese, commonly called taki-taki, common among Creoles and most of the youth), Hindustani (Hindi-Urdu), Javanese and Portuguese. Last changes: 09.05.2013Money
Suriname dollar(SRD, S$) - is equal to 100 cents. In circulation are banknotes in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 dollars and coins in denominations of 250, 100, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cent.
Since January 1, 2004, the Surinamese dollar, pegged to the US dollar, has replaced the previously used Surinamese guilder.
Although the Surinamese dollar is considered the only legal tender in the country, you can still find coins in circulation in guilders (their current denomination should be calculated based on the proportion of 1000 guilders to 1 Surinamese dollar), which are exchanged at the offices of the Central Bank of the country.
Almost all stores and institutions accept US dollars at the usual rate, many stores even indicate prices in both Surinamese and US dollars at the same time.
Banks are open on weekdays from 7.00 to 14.00. You can exchange currency in banks and exchange offices.
It is not recommended to change currency on the street (there is a high risk of fraud), as well as in hotels, where the exchange rate is usually much lower than in exchange offices.
Credit cards are accepted in most restaurants, hotels and shops (American Express, MasterCard and Visa). ATMs are quite widespread in the capital - they can be found both in banks and in post offices in the central regions.
Traveler's checks can be cashed at banks.
Communication and communications
Internet domain: .sr
International dialing country code - 597
Area codes are not used, all phones have an end-to-end six-digit numbering system.
Fixed line
Pay phones with direct access to international lines are easy to find only in the capital. They work on prepaid cards, which are purchased at kiosks, most stores and post offices. A call to the countries of the Caribbean region will cost about $1.5 per minute, to Europe - about $3.
From remote settlements, you can usually call abroad only from the post office, through the operator.
How to call
To call from Russia to Suriname, you need to dial: 8 - dial tone - 10 - 597 - subscriber number.
To call from Suriname to Russia, you need to dial: 00 - 7 - area code - subscriber number.
cellular
Cellular communication of the GSM 900/1800 standard covers for the most part only the territory of the capital and its environs.
Roaming with local operators Telesur (GSM 900/1800) and Digicel Suriname (GSM 850 and 900/1800) is available to subscribers of the largest Russian operators.
Internet
There are Internet cafes in Paramaribo, Lelydorp, Nieuw Nickerie, as well as in many small settlements(usually they are located in the buildings of post offices and libraries).
shopping
Shops are usually open from Monday to Friday from 7.30 to 16.30, on Saturdays from 7.30 to 13.00. On Wednesdays and Fridays, many shops have reduced opening hours, and during carnival and other national or religious holidays, almost all shops are closed.
Where to stay
There are hotels (4-3*) and hostels in Paramaribo. It is difficult to find a hotel in other cities.
During a trip to the jungle, tourists can stay in guest houses, where instead of beds there are hammocks for guests (this is a rather exotic type of overnight stay, but also quite unhygienic, since there are no washing machines in the forest).
Sea and beaches
For a beach holiday in Suriname do not go. The beaches here are sandy, wild and long.
Story
The coastal part of Suriname was discovered by one of the first Spanish expeditions to South America - Alonso de Ojeda and Vicente Pinsona, in 1499. The coast was first mapped in 1500, following the expedition of another Spanish conquistador, Diego Lepe. The name of the country received from the river flowing through its territory.
The colonization of Suriname began only in the first half of the 17th century and was carried out by the British. However, in 1667, England transferred Suriname to the Netherlands in exchange for New Amsterdam (the territory of present-day New York). Since then, with the exception of 1799-1802 and 1804-1816, Suriname during three centuries was a possession of the Netherlands.
At the end of the 17th century, Suriname became the leading supplier of sugar to Europe. A plantation system of economy was created in Suriname for the cultivation of sugar cane, and Negro slaves from Africa were brought to work on the plantations.
In the second half of the 19th century, Suriname experienced an economic decline. The main reasons were the establishment in Europe of its own production of sugar from beets and the shortage of labor that arose after the abolition of slavery in 1863, since the liberated blacks left the plantations for the cities. This problem was solved only at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries by the immigration to Suriname of more than 60 thousand Indians and Indonesians, as well as the Chinese.
With the advent of immigrants from Asia, the structure of the economy of Suriname changed dramatically - the plantation economy was replaced by a small-ownership peasant economy. In the 1920s, the development of the industry of Suriname began, the basis of which was the mines for the extraction of bauxite and gold, as well as enterprises for the processing of various types of agricultural products.
Since 1922, the country officially ceased to be called a colony and turned into an Associated Territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
In 1954, it received autonomy (only defense and foreign affairs remained under the jurisdiction of the Netherlands), and on November 25, 1975, it became the independent republic of Suriname.
On February 25, 1980, a military coup took place in Suriname. It was organized by 34-year-old master sergeant Desi Bouterse (coach of the army basketball team), with the help of 15 other sergeants. Bouterse began to rule Suriname as a dictator, the head of the National Military Council he had created (assuming military rank lieutenant colonel - the highest in the Surinamese army). He dissolved parliament, abolished the constitution, introduced a state of emergency in the country and created a special tribunal that tried the cases of members of the former government and entrepreneurs.
Bouterse proclaimed "a program for the moral recovery of the Surinamese nation." Several figures of the former government were executed. In response, the Netherlands stopped providing financial assistance to Suriname. Meanwhile, Bouterse began to nationalize the industry of Suriname. After that, great economic difficulties arose in Suriname (production dropped sharply), strikes and protests of the population began.
In 1986, a guerrilla war began in Suriname against the Bouterse regime. It was organized by Ronnie Brunswijk, one of the 15 sergeants involved in the coup led by Bouterse. Brunswijk was not promoted after the coup, so he, being a maroon (“forest black”), accused the Bouterse (mulatto Creole) regime of racism and created a partisan army from the “forest blacks”, which was active in the east of Suriname.
In 1987, Bouterse agreed to the restoration of the constitution and the holding of elections, on the condition that he remain head of the armed forces Suriname.
In 1990, Bouterse again overthrew the elected government, but in 1991 he allowed new elections to be held and ceased to be the ruler of Suriname. Since then, Suriname has been governed by coalition governments. Economic situation in Suriname has improved as a result of diversification of the economy and the development of oil fields.
Ronald Venetian was President from 1991 to 1996. From 1996 to 2000 - Jules Weydenbos and from 2000 to 2010 - again Ronald Venetian. On May 25, 2010, regular parliamentary elections were held, as a result of which the ruling National Democratic Party and its presidential candidate won - former ruler Desi Bouters.
Tap water is usually chlorinated and safe to drink, but bottled water is recommended, especially during the first few days of your stay.
Drinking water in the province is mostly polluted and not recommended for consumption.
Fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed and peeled.
The flora and fauna of the local forests also contain many living creatures dangerous to health, so it is recommended to visit them only accompanied by an experienced guide. Also required in this case are repellents, tight clothing that covers the entire body as much as possible, strong shoes and protective insect nets (the presence and integrity of the latter should also be checked in hotels).
Typical local hazards include high levels of solar radiation (protective creams, wide-brimmed hats and light clothing made from natural fabrics are recommended) and high humidity (special measures are required to protect photo and video equipment from moisture).
How to get there
There is no direct air service between Russia and Suriname. From Moscow, you can get here from airlines with transfers in Amsterdam. Also, an airline flies from Amsterdam to Suriname.
Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport is the country's main air gateway. It is located 45 km south of Paramaribo.
The coast was discovered by X. Columbus in 1499. In 1551, Dutch merchants founded a trading post on the banks of the river. Suriname. From the end of the 16th century - alternately the possession of Spain, Great Britain, the Netherlands (under an agreement with Great Britain, in exchange for New Amsterdam - the territory of modern New York). Since 1866 - Dutch Guiana
; since November 25, 1975 - independent Republic of Suriname
; the head of state is the president; legislative power in the National assembly.
OK. half of the territory in the north is occupied by Guiana Nism., partially marshy, with polders along the coast, protected from ocean flooding by dams and drainage channels. On Yu - Guiana Plateau
(Wilhemina, 1280 m). The climate is subequatorial, hot and constantly humid. Wed-mon. temperatures 26–28 °С. Precipitation 2000–3000 mm per year or more. The rainiest period is in April - August; the driest - in September - November. Main rivers: Korantein
, Maroni (both border). Almost 90% of the territory is occupied by moist impenetrable equatorial forests (selva) with valuable tree species; on the coastal low. – savannas, b.ch. scorched under plantations; along the coast - mangroves.
Population 434 thousand people. (2001); motley national composition (from the middle of the 17th century, African slaves were imported; after the abolition of slavery in 1863, workers from India, China, Indonesia and other countries): Indo-Pakistani 37%; Creoles 31%; Indonesians 15%; Africans 10%; Indians (mainly arr. Caribs) 3%, Chinese and Europeans (2% each). Official language is Dutch. Citizens 49% (1995). The basis of x-va is the extraction of bauxites. Production of alumina and aluminum. Food, oil, tab., leather shoes, text, woodworking. prom. The main agricultural crops: rice (over 2/3 of arable land), sugar. cane, citrus fruits, coffee, cocoa, bananas, coconut palm. They say - meat live-in; fish and shrimp fishing; harvesting valuable wood species, collecting gutta-percha from balata trees. Seaports: Paramaribo and Mungo. Intern. the airport. Cash unit - Surinamese guilder.
Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Yekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of Acad. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .
Republic of Suriname, a state on the northeast coast of South America. Until 1975, Suriname was a colony of the Netherlands and was called the Netherlands Guiana. In the west it borders on Guyana, in the south - on Brazil, in the east - on Guiana (French), in the north it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The coastline of Suriname has a length of 360 km; from north to south, the country stretches for more than 400 km. The population of the country is 428 thousand people (1998). The capital and the only major city is Paramaribo (180 thousand inhabitants). Other significant cities are Nieuw Nickerie, Albina and Mungo.
Nature. On the territory of Suriname, one can distinguish the coastal Guiana lowland, the savannah belt and the tropical forest belt of the Guiana Plateau.
The Guiana lowland, from 25 km in the east to 80 km in the west, is composed of alluvial and marine sands and clays. The surface is flat, marshy, in some places crossed by coastal ridges and dissected by rivers. Separate forest areas have been preserved. Small centers of agriculture are confined to coastal ramparts and drained areas of marshes.
To the south, on the slopes of the Guiana Plateau, a narrow belt of savannahs is common. The soils here are infertile, agriculture is poorly developed and has a consumer character.
The Guiana Plateau is composed of ancient crystalline rocks. The surface is largely covered by tropical rainforest. Against the general smoothed background, watershed mountain ranges and ranges stand out, especially the Wilhelmina Mountains with the highest point of the country - Mount Juliana (1230 m). On the southern slopes of the highlands, partly located within Suriname, savannahs reappear.
The country is crossed by four large rivers flowing in a northerly direction: Corantein, along which part of the border with Guyana passes, Koppename, Gran Rio, and Marowijne (the latter forms the border with French Guiana). For agriculture and transportation of goods, the Kottika and Commeweine rivers, which flow into the Suriname River near its mouth, the Saramakka, which flows into Koppenam, also near the mouth, and the Nickerie, a tributary of the Korantein, are also of great importance. Because of the rapids, ships can only move within the coastal lowlands, so until recently, the southern regions of the country were practically isolated from the outside world.
The climate of Suriname is subequatorial, humid and hot. The average monthly temperatures range from 23° to 31° C. The average annual rainfall is 2300 mm in the plains and more than 3000 mm in the mountains. There are two wet seasons (from mid-November to February and from late March to mid-July) and two dry seasons (shorter from February to mid-March and longer from August to mid-November).
population and society. In the 1990s, Suriname's annual population growth averaged 0.9%. About 90% of the population is concentrated in the coastal zone, primarily in Paramaribo and its suburbs. In the interior, the population density is extremely low.
The birth rate in Suriname tends to decrease - from 26 per 1000 in 1985-1990 to 18.87 per 1000 in 2004. The death rate is 6.99 per 1000. Thus, the natural increase of the population, 1.7% per year, is one among the lowest in Latin America. At the same time, the actual population growth is significantly reduced due to emigration, which increased sharply after 1950. By 1970, its level was 2% per year, by 1975, when the country gained independence, it reached 10%. A new wave of emigration rose after the political upheavals of 1980 and 1982. The total number of emigrants to the Netherlands reached 180 thousand by 1987. In 1998, the emigration rate was 9 people per 1000. At the same time, immigration into the country remains very small.
Surinamese society is characterized by ethnic stratification. According to 1997 data, 37% of the population of Suriname were Indians, descendants of immigrants who came to the country in the 19th century; 31% are blacks and mulattos, who are called Creoles in Suriname; 15.3% are from Indonesia; 10.3% - the so-called. "forest negros", descendants of runaway slaves living in the interior of the country; 2.6% - Indians, the indigenous inhabitants of the country; 1.7% are Chinese; 1% are Europeans and 1.1% are representatives of other ethnic groups.
Creoles, who make up two-thirds of the urban population, are settled mainly in Paramaribo and its suburbs. Indians are concentrated in the most productive agricultural areas. They make up less than a quarter of the urban population. Indonesians are located in the less fertile agricultural areas, they form the majority only in Commeweine district, where they are used as wage laborers on plantations. Indians and "forest blacks" mainly live in the interior of the country.
The ethnic diversity of Suriname is also manifested in the language. The official language is Dutch, but many Surinamese do not consider it their mother tongue, and some do not know it at all. The language of interethnic communication was born in the Negro-mulatto environment, the Shranan Tongo language, in other words, Negro English, or bastard English, also called Toki-Toki or Surinamese. At least 16 other languages are spoken in the country, including Hindi, Indonesian, Chinese, two "forest black" languages - Aukan and Saramackan, and at least four Indian languages.
The same diversity is observed in confessions. Christianity is represented by Protestant (mainly Moravian, 25.2%) and Roman Catholic (22.8% adherents) churches. Indians practice Hinduism (27.6%) or Islam (19.6%). Most Indonesians are Islamists, part of the population are Catholics. In Suriname, there are supporters of Judaism and Confucianism. Negroes practice syncretic African-American cults, which include elements of Christianity and pagan rites of healing and evocation of spirits.
The class structure of Surinamese society is very blurred. The struggle for economic and political dominance unfolds between different ethnic groups that dominate some areas of activity. At the same time, class stratification is also observed within ethnic groups. Thus, in the Negro-Mulatto environment, a narrow stratum of specialists who have received a European education, and government employees, as well as a wide lower stratum of unskilled or completely unskilled workers stand out. Indians in the first half of the 20th century established control over agriculture, and after the Second World War began to actively master urban professions and now compete with other ethnic groups in all areas of the economy. Indonesians generally remain on the sidelines, forming a stratum of agricultural wage laborers. The Chinese, predominantly employed in the urban retail trade, belong to the middle and upper classes, the "forest blacks" and the Indians living in the wilderness represent the marginalized groups of the population.
In the 1980s, Suriname experienced a reduction in welfare programs. The Netherlands and some religious communities bear the cost of medical care for the population. The average life expectancy in Suriname in 1998 was 70.6 years (68 for men and 73.3 for women).
Suriname has declared compulsory education for children between the ages of 6 and 12. Economic difficulties have a negative impact on the quality of education. In 1993, 94% of children attended primary schools. The University of Suriname (founded in 1968) and other institutions of higher learning had 4,400 students in 1992. Competently 93% of the adult population. If in 1975 there were 7 daily newspapers in the country, then at the end of the 1990s there were only two (“West” and “Ware Tide”), which are published in the Dutch language.
Government and politics. In 1975, when Suriname gained independence, a constitution was adopted, according to which the country was proclaimed a parliamentary republic, the former governor-general remained the formal president of the country, and the real executive power passed to the cabinet of ministers. As a result of the military coup in 1980, the constitution was abolished. The new constitution, approved by general referendum in 1987, provides for the popular election for a five-year term of 51 deputies of the legislative body - the National Assembly, which in turn elects the president (head of state) and the vice president, who heads the cabinet, who is appointed by the president himself. The President forms the State Council of 15 people - representatives of political forces, trade unions, business and military circles. The Council of State makes recommendations to the Cabinet and has the power to veto laws coming from the National Assembly. In practice, Lieutenant Colonel Desi Bouterse, who led the coup d'état in 1980 and ruled the country until 1987, enjoyed almost unlimited power as Councilor of State, although his power was somewhat limited after his resignation from the post of commander-in-chief of the army in April 1993.
The judiciary of Suriname consists of a Supreme Court composed of six judges appointed for life by the President and three lower courts. Administratively, the country is divided into 10 districts under the administration of the administrative representatives of the President: Brokopondo, Commeweine, Koroni, Maroweine, Nikeri, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini and Wanika.
After the Second World War, three political parties were formed in Suriname: the National Party of Suriname (founded in 1946), expressing the interests of the small and middle national bourgeoisie of Creole origin, the Indonesian Party of National Unity and Solidarity (1947) and the United Hindustani Party (1949, since 1969 called the Progressive Reform Party, which unites Indians. These essentially ethnic parties were banned after the Bouterse coup d'état in 1980. In 1985 they emerged from the underground and two years later formed the coalition Front for Democracy and Development led by Ronald Venetian. The Front initially opposed the National Democratic Party (NDP), founded by Bouterse in 1987. In the same year, the Suriname Labor Party was formed, which in 1991 joined the Front, which won the 1987 elections. The Front briefly lost power during a military coup in December 1990 , but in the 1991 elections he again won and brought Venetian to the presidency. In 1996, the NDP entered into a coalition with the Indonesian Party and a number of minor parties and led to the victory of its candidate in the elections. Jules Weidenbosch became the new president.
Economy. The country's economic development was hampered by a small population, lack of well-maintained roads, and political instability. In 1996, Suriname's GDP was $523 million, i.e. $1,306 per capita (GDP reached $1.08 billion in the 1980s). The decline in GDP was due to guerrilla warfare in bauxite mining areas, economic mismanagement, and falling demand and prices for bauxite and aluminium, Suriname's main export products. Bauxite mining, which previously accounted for 80% of exports and 30% of GDP annually, fell in 1997 to 70% of exports and 15% of GDP. In Suriname, large-scale development of bauxite deposits began after the Second World War: then more than 75% of bauxite was exported from Suriname to the United States. Currently, Suriname mined approx. 4 million tons of bauxite per year, and it is one of the ten largest producers of bauxite in the world. The main deposits are concentrated in Paranam and Mungo in the northeast of the country. The bauxite mining industry is controlled by American and Dutch companies. Bauxite mining is highly mechanized, so less than 5% of the working population is employed in this industry. In the 1990s, Suriname exported approx. 300 kg of gold. Deposits of iron ore, copper, nickel, platinum, manganese and kaolin have been explored, but they are not being developed.
In 1981, oil fields were discovered in Suriname. In 1997, its production reached 300 thousand tons and continues to grow at a rapid pace. About 40% of crude oil is exported, the rest goes to energy service for the production of alumina and aluminum. Thus, Suriname has sharply reduced its dependence on other energy sources and imported energy carriers (oil products and coal). In the 1960s, a hydroelectric power station was built in Afobak, providing cheap electricity that is used in the production of aluminum. The country has a number of public and private thermal power plants.
The industry of Suriname as a whole is underdeveloped, so the country imports many essential industrial products, although it provides itself with food. In addition to bauxite mining and processing, Suriname produces beverages, tobacco products, footwear and cement.
60% of all agricultural production in Suriname is rice, mainly from the Nickerie district. Under this culture, approx. 50 thousand hectares. The largest rice plantation is located near Wageningen, it is mostly Indonesian workers. However, in general, small farms predominate. Bananas, palm oil, coconuts, citrus fruits, coffee, beef, chickens stand out among the agricultural products of Suriname. Sugar cane, which for centuries was the basis of the colonial economy, now occupies a very modest place. The importance of shrimp and timber harvesting is growing.
Between 1983 and 1988, the official unemployment rate was 13.2%. In fact, this figure was even higher, especially in Paramaribo, where seasonal agricultural workers flocked in search of work. Unemployment continued to be a serious problem in the 1990s, marked by an economic downturn. In 1998, the share of employees was 49% of the working population (100 thousand), of which 35% are employed in the private sector and 16% in state-owned companies. In the 1980s, due to the persistent budget deficit, the country's foreign exchange reserves were significantly reduced. The situation has improved since 1988, when Suriname began to receive financial assistance from the Netherlands, the US, the EU, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.
In 1996, Suriname's export earnings were $457.7 million and import expenditures were $415.5 million. After bauxite, alumina, and aluminum, rice, timber, bananas, and shrimp were important exports. The latter are exported mainly to the USA (25%), the Netherlands and the EU countries. Suriname imports engineering products, oil, steel and rolled products, agricultural products and consumer goods. 50% of imports come from the US and the rest from Brazil, the EU and the Caribbean.
Story. The indigenous inhabitants of Suriname lived in separate tribes in small settlements, earning their living by hunting and primitive agriculture, the basis of which was the cultivation of root crops, mainly cassava. The coastal tribes spoke the languages of the Arawak family, the Indians of the interior - the Caribbean languages. The coast of Suriname was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1498 during the third expedition to the New World. However, for a long time the Spaniards and the Portuguese did not try to colonize the area. Only at the end of the 16th century. the British, French and Dutch began to take an interest in Guiana, as rumors spread that the fabulously rich country of El Dorado was located there. The Europeans never found gold, but they founded trading posts along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.
The first permanent settlement was founded on the Suriname River by Dutch merchants in 1551. At the end of the 16th century. Suriname was captured by the Spaniards, in 1630 by the British, who then, under a peace treaty in Breda (1667), ceded Suriname to Holland in exchange for New Amsterdam (now New York). Among the first colonists of Suriname were many Dutch and Italian Jews who fled from the persecution of the Inquisition. In 1685, on the Suriname River, 55 km southeast of modern Paramaribo, they founded the colony of Yodensavanne (lit. Jewish Savannah). Until 1794, Suriname was under the control of the Dutch West India Company and since then has remained a colony of the Netherlands (with the exception of two short periods in 1799-1802 and 1804-1814, when it was captured by the British).
The basis of the economy of the colony was the plantation economy. Slaves were brought in from Africa to work on the plantations. Along with the main crop, sugar cane, coffee and chocolate trees, indigo, cotton, and cereals were grown on plantations. The plantation economy expanded until 1785. By this time, there were 590 plantations in Suriname; of these, 452 cultivated sugar cane and other cash crops, and the rest cultivated crops for domestic consumption. At the very end of the 18th century. the colony began to decline. By 1860 there were only 87 sugarcane plantations left, and by 1940 only four.
In Suriname, as in other sugar-producing colonies that used the labor of slaves, there was a sharp stratification of society. At the highest rung of the social hierarchy was a very small layer of Europeans, mostly colonial officials, large merchants and a few planters. The European population was dominated by the Dutch, but there were also Germans, French and British. Below this elite was a layer of free Creoles, which included descendants from marriages of Europeans with slaves and slaves who received or bought freedom. The lowest and most numerous category of society were slaves. Among them, they distinguished between slaves brought from Africa legally until 1804 and illegally until 1820, and slaves born in Suriname.
The system of slavery in Suriname was characterized by extreme cruelty. Slaves had no rights. Colonial laws were intended to give slave owners unlimited power over slaves and completely isolate the latter from the free population. Therefore, the slaves, at every opportunity, fled from their masters into the interior of the country and created settlements in the forests (“forest negros”).
From the beginning of the 19th century in Europe, the campaign for the abolition of slavery was expanding. After the British (1833) and then the French (1848) abolished slavery in their colonies, the Dutch decided to follow suit. However, it was feared that the freed slaves would not want to work on the plantations. Therefore, following the abolition of slavery, it was decided that the slaves should work on the former plantations for 10 years for a minimum wage. The decree on the abolition of slavery was adopted in 1863. After that, the freed slaves were faced with the need to feed themselves and their families and poured into Paramaribo, where labor was better paid and it was possible to get an education. There they replenished the middle Creole layer of society, becoming servants, workers, merchants, and their descendants - even elementary school teachers and petty officials. At the end of the 19th century some Creoles moved into the interior of the country, where they engaged in gold mining and rubber collection. In the 1920s, Creoles found work in bauxite mines, and also emigrated to Curaçao (where they worked at oil refineries), the Netherlands and the USA.
In search of labor for the plantations, the colonial authorities began to recruit residents of Asian countries under the contract. In the period 1853-1873, 2.5 thousand Chinese were brought to Suriname, in 1873-1922 - 34 thousand Indians, in 1891-1939 - 33 thousand Indonesians. The descendants of these migrants now make up the majority of Suriname's population. During the Second World War, there were many American soldiers in Suriname, along with them, capital appeared to serve the US military bases.
For a long time, Suriname was governed by a governor appointed by the metropolis. Under him, there were two councils elected by local electors and approved by the Dutch authorities. In 1866, these councils were replaced by parliament, but the governor retained the right to veto any decisions of this body. Initially, a strict property and educational qualification was in effect to participate in the elections, but as it was softened, planters began to penetrate the parliament, and after 1900 the majority in it was already made up of representatives of the upper and middle strata of Creole society. However, the electorate did not exceed 2% of the population until 1949, when universal suffrage was introduced.
In 1954 Suriname received autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. At the same time, the metropolis still appointed the governor and controlled the defense and foreign policy of the country, and the Surinamese elected the parliament and government.
After 1949, the Creoles gained great influence in parties organized along ethnic lines. They formed a coalition with the Indonesians, who also supported the independence of Suriname, won the 1973 elections and formed a government led by Prime Minister Henk Arron, leader of the National Party of Suriname (NPS). Negotiations with the Netherlands were successful, and on November 25, 1975, the independence of Suriname was proclaimed. After that ok. 40,000 Asian Surinamese emigrated to the Netherlands. The former metropolis pledged to provide financial assistance to the young state in the amount of $ 1.5 billion within 15 years. Before independence, two more political parties formed in Suriname: the Indian Progressive Reform Party and the Indonesian Party of National Unity and Solidarity.
Arron, re-elected in 1977, was accused of corruption and removed from his post in 1980 in a military coup by a group of army officers led by Lieutenant Colonel Desi Bouterse. The National Military Council came to power, which dissolved parliament by February 1982, repealed the constitution, and dismissed the last representative of the civilian government, President Henk Chin Ah Sen. The latter, together with thousands of Surinamese, emigrated to the Netherlands, where, in order to fight the dictatorial regime, he formed the Movement for the Liberation of Suriname. The economic crisis was added to the political crisis, caused by the fall in world prices for bauxite. Economic losses were only partly compensated by money transfers from emigrants to their homeland.
After the military tortured and killed 15 known citizens of the country, the Netherlands stopped financial assistance to Suriname. Under domestic and international pressure, the National Military Council in 1985 authorized the formation of a new parliament and lifted the ban on political parties. After that, Arron entered the National War Council, renamed the Supreme Council.
In July 1986, with the support of the Movement for the Liberation of Suriname, several hundred lightly armed "forest blacks" revolted in the south and east of the country. Led by Ronnie Brunswijk, Bouterse's former personal bodyguard, they formed the Surinamese Liberation Army, designed to restore constitutional order to the country. Within a few months, they destabilized the work of bauxite mines and oil refineries. Bouterse accused the government of the Netherlands and Surinamese emigrants, among others, of aiding the rebels, which led to the rupture of diplomatic relations between Suriname and the Netherlands in early 1987. The Surinamese army tried to suppress the uprising with cruel measures, often violating the rights of its own citizens and foreigners. This policy caused widespread discontent, and the population demanded reforms. In a referendum in September 1987, 93% of voters voted in favor of the new constitution.
In the parliamentary elections in November 1987, representatives of the Bouterse party received only three seats out of 51, while the multi-ethnic Front for Democracy and Development received 40 seats. In January 1988, Ramsevak Shankar, a businessman of Indian origin, became president, and Arron became vice president and prime minister. Bouterse retained some power as head of the five-member Military Council. Shankar's policy was aimed at improving relations with the Netherlands and the United States. The Netherlands again began to provide assistance to Suriname, promising to pay 721 million dollars over 7-8 years. Bauxite mining resumed.
However, in December 1990 the military removed the civilian government and dissolved the National Assembly. Under pressure from the world community, the military was forced in May 1991 to hold elections with the participation of international observers. In these elections, a coalition called the New Front for Democracy, which included three traditional ethnic parties, the Front for Democracy and Development and the Labor Party of Suriname, gained 30 votes in parliament. In September, Ronald R. Venetian, candidate of the National Party of Suriname, took over as president; the leader of the Indian Progressive Reform Party, Yul R. Ayodiya, became Vice President and Prime Minister. Colonel Bauterse remained commander-in-chief of the army.
In August 1992, Venetian reached peace agreements with the Surinamese Liberation Army rebels. Bouterse was replaced as commander-in-chief by Arti Gorre. In the first half of the 1990s, Suriname, along with some other Latin American countries, embarked on the path of liberal economic reforms. Venetian managed to curb inflation and improve relations with the Netherlands, which increased financial aid to Suriname and investment in the economy. However, union opposition and the collapse of the New Front coalition led to Venetian's defeat in the May 1996 elections. Indonesian parties and with a number of small parties approved their candidate Weidenbosch as president. At the same time, the coalition turned out to be rather weak, and in 1997-1998 the new government was unable to put its legislative program into effect. Behind Weidenbosch stood Bouterse. Under him, Suriname became the main transshipment base for drugs on the way from Brazil, Venezuela and Colombia to the Netherlands and the United States. The police were led by Bouterse's closest associate, Colonel Etienne Burenveen, who was convicted in Miami in the 1980s and served five years in prison for dealing cocaine. Another Bouterse employee, Henk Goodschalk, became head of the Central Bank of Suriname. In August 1998, at the request of the Dutch government, Interpol issued an arrest warrant for Bouterse on charges of drug dealing and financial fraud.
Encyclopedia Around the World. 2008 .
SURINAM
REPUBLIC OF SURINAM
State in northeastern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Brazil to the south, and Guyana to the west. In the north it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. The area of the country is 163265 km2. Suriname consists of a swampy coastal plain about 80 km wide and a central plateau. In the south there are mountains covered with dense forest. The main rivers of the country are Maroni, Curantin and Koppeneim.
The population of the country (estimated in 1998) is about 428,000 people, the average population density is about 2.6 people per km2. Ethnic groups: Hindus - 37%, Creoles - 31%, Indonesians (Javanese) - 15%, Maroons (descendants of fugitive slaves) - 10%, Indians - 3%, Chinese - 2%, Europeans - 1%. Language: Dutch (state), Saran-Tong (taki-taki), English. Religion: Christians - 47%, Hindus - 27%, Muslims - 20%. Capital and The largest city: Paramaribo (180,000 people). State structure- republic. The head of state is President Roland Venetian (in office since September 16, 1991). The head of government is Prime Minister Jules Ajodia (in office since September 16, 1991). The monetary unit is the Surinamese guilder. Average life expectancy (for 1998): 68 years - men, 73 years - women. The birth rate (per 1,000 people) is 22.5. Mortality rate (per 1000 people) - 5.8.
Before the arrival of Europeans, Suriname was inhabited by the Arawak, Carib and Warrau tribes. The first Europeans were the Dutch in 1581. In 1922, Suriname (at that time Dutch Guiana) became part of the Netherlands, in 1954 received the status equal member kingdoms. On November 25, 1975, Suriname gained independence, after which about 40 thousand people emigrated to Holland. The country is a member of the UN, WHO, ILO, FAO, IMF, World Bank. Organization of American States.
The climate of the country is tropical and humid. The average annual temperature is about 27°C. The rainy season lasts from December to April, at which time the rains often cause floods.
Among the attractions is a museum with exhibits of archeology, culture and natural history in Paramaribo.
Encyclopedia: cities and countries. 2008 .
The capital is the city of Paramaribo.
Climate of Suriname
In Suriname with subequatorial climate, temperatures all year round around 27 degrees. The doge season runs from November to January, and the doge season also takes place in June. During the summer it is the dry season, when temperatures can reach 35 degrees. It is better to go to Suriname from February to April and October to December.
AT old days Suriname was called Dutch Guiana by analogy with French Guiana, although this name was unofficial.
Geography of Suriname
Suriname is the smallest country in terms of area in South America, the entire population lives on the coast, the jungle and savannah begin inland, where there is no life. Almost the entire territory of Suriname is not suitable for agriculture.
History of Suriname
Suriname was discovered in 1499 by Alonso de Ojeda and Vicente Pinson, a year later the conquistador Diego Lepe came here and put the territory on the map. The first envoys here were the British at the beginning of the 17th century, who subsequently exchanged this land for the Netherlands for New Amsterdam, which is now called New York. Suriname was used by the Netherlands in the same way as the rest of the lands of Latin America, sugar cane was mainly grown here by slaves brought from Africa, and in the 18th century Suriname became the main supplier of sugar to Europe, but in the 19th century sugar cane plantations in Suriname came to an end in the same way , as in other regions of the Western Hemisphere, this is due to the abolition of slavery and the start of Europe's own sugar production. Instead of Negroes, work in the field of local agriculture went to the Indians, the Chinese, the Indonesians, and large plantations grew into proprietary small farms. At the beginning of the 20th century, production began to develop in Suriname, enterprises for the extraction of gold and bauxite appeared. In 1922, Suriname was named an Associated Territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In 1954 it was already an autonomy, and since 1975 it has become an independent republic of Suriname. In 1969, Suriname was in conflict with Guyana, in 1980 a military coup was carried out in Suriname. In 1986, a guerrilla war began in Suriname against the Bouterse regime, a coup d'etat took place in 1990, since then coalition governments have ruled Suriname. The economy has improved since the days of the Dutch administration, and the development of oil fields has begun.
The Republic of Suriname is a constitutional, democratic Republic based on the 1987 Constitution with a President who is elected for a term of five years by a two-thirds majority. National Assembly. The most surprising thing is that Suriname, unlike other colonies of Britain or France, does not maintain friendly relations with the Netherlands, moreover, the Netherlands itself has deleted Suriname from its development program. Suriname's President Desi Bouterse was sentenced in the Netherlands to 11 years in prison for drug trafficking. After the 1991 coup d'état, the United States became Suriname's main western friend instead of the Netherlands. The two countries are working together through the Caribbean Security Initiatives (CBSC) and the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Suriname also receives military funding from the US Department of Defense. The EU is also partnering with Suriname, and cooperation comes with China and Brazil.
Population and demographics of Suriname
About 545 thousand people live in Suriname today, in Suriname the highest ethnic diversity of the population in America, which is a consequence of the forced or voluntary resettlement of peoples from different parts of the world here.
Indians make up 37% of the population, Creoles blacks and mulattoes 31%, Javanese 15%, Maroons 10%, Indians 2%, Chinese 2% white 1%. Almost the entire population of Suriname lives in Paramaribo or on the coast, and 350 thousand people from Suriname today live in the Netherlands.
The white population in Suriname is insignificant, they are all descendants of 19th century Dutch immigrant farmers, but most of them returned to the Netherlands after Suriname became an independent state in 1975.
Cities in Suriname
The largest city in Suriname is Paramaribo with a population of 223,757, followed by Lelydorp 18,223, Nieuw Nickerie 13,143. The population of Paramaribo is more than the nine other largest cities in the country combined.
Religion in Suriname
The religious composition in Suriname is very diverse and reflects the diversity of cultures in the country. 48.4% of the population is Christian, of which 21.6% Roman Catholic, 11.18% Pentecostal, 11.6% Moravian, 22.3% Hindu, this is the largest proportion for Hindu worshipers in the Western Hemisphere. Muslims make up 13.9% of the population. There are also African American religions in Suriname, 10% of the population is not religious.
Language in Suriname
The official language in Suriname is Dutch, the "Surinamese language" Creole, which has received its own name Sranan Tongo and is native to approximately 400,000 people, most Surinamese speak it as a second or third language. At the very beginning, Sranan Tongo was a pidgin spoken by Surinamese slaves, but after the arrival of workers from India and China, the language grew into a lingua franca, a language of interethnic communication, a real mixed language, for example, in the post-Soviet space, Russian acts as a lingua franca language . In Paramaribo, Dutch is the primary language for two-thirds of the households. Surinamese Hindi is spoken by people from South Asia, mainly from India, respectively, local Indians speak Indian, people from China speak Chinese. Over the past two decades, many in Suriname have spoken out in favor of changing the official language from Dutch to English in order to improve communication with the Caribbean and North America, there are also fans of finding Spanish as an official language, but Suriname has no neighbors of countries with Spanish.
Economy, work, salaries in Suriname
Some semblance of democracy emerged in Suriname after the turbulent 1990s, and the country's economy became more diversified and less dependent on Dutch bailouts. The main source of foreign exchange earnings is still the extraction of bauxite (aluminum ore), the discovery and exploitation of oil and gold has significantly added to the economic independence of Suriname. Agriculture specializes in the cultivation of rice and bananas, more than 80% of Suriname's territory consists of untouched tropical forests.
Bauxite accounts for over 15% of GDP and 70% of export earnings. Agriculture mainly consists of crops such as rice, bananas and shrimp. A quarter of the total population of Suriname works in agriculture. The main trading partners are the Netherlands, the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, mainly Trinidad and Tobago and the Netherlands Antilles.
Suriname's GDP per capita is $9,900.
The industry of Suriname is the production of aluminum oxide, oil, gold, fish, shrimp, lumber.
Agriculture is based on the cultivation of rice, bananas, palm nuts, coconuts, peanuts, citrus fruits and timber processing.
The main consumers of Surinamese exports: USA. 26.1%, Belgium 17.6%, UAE 12.1%, Canada 10.4%, Guyana 6.5%, France 5.6%, Barbados 4.7%.
Imports are capital equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods. Main suppliers: USA. 25.8%, Netherlands 15.8%, China 9.8%, UAE 7.9%, Antigua and Barbuda 7.3%, Netherlands Antilles 5.4%, Japan 4.2%.
Visas to Suriname
Citizens of Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan need a visa to visit Suriname, the difficulty lies in the fact that in these countries there are no diplomatic representations of Surianma, the nearest ones are located in the Netherlands. However, entry permit documents from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Suriname can be sent by mail. These documents include a passport, which will be valid for another six months from the moment of entry into Suriname, of course, if a long-term visa is requested for more than one year, then, accordingly, the passport must be valid during this time, a completed application form in Dutch or English language, color photo 3x4, round-trip electronic tickets, hotel reservation, description of the entire tourist route, if the trip is by invitation, then the corresponding document on this occasion. For children, a birth certificate is provided, a copy of a notarized power of attorney for the child to travel abroad from the parent or parents staying at home with a translation into English or Dutch.
Permission to enter Suriname is sent to the applicant and to the airline on which the tourist will fly to Suriname, in fact, without this permission, the tourist should not be allowed on board the aircraft.
When applying for a visa at the Consulate of Suriname in the Netherlands, the entire list of documents is provided. The term for issuing an entry permit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Suriname is up to one month, but if the applicant has valid visas to the USA, Canada, the European Union, then a visa is issued in one day.
Tourists arriving at the Suriname airport are issued a visa for 2 months or a multiple entry visa for up to 3 months, a multiple tourist visa for 1 year is also possible, naturally, you can only stay in Suriname for 3 months every six months, and a multiple business visa for 2 years is also issued, transit visa for 3 days.
Suriname Airport has a visa fee of $30 for a single entry visa, $60 for a multiple entry visa and $45 for a single business visa. If a visa is issued in the Netherlands, then a consular fee of 40 euros is provided for short-term visas, 150 euros for an annual multiple entry visa, 50 euros for a multiple business visa for 2 years and a transit visa will cost 10 euros.
Formalities and rules for entering Suriname
There are no airport taxes in Suriname, however, a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required, upon arrival at the location you need to register with the police, you can do it yourself or entrust the hotel. Many who wish to visit Suriname apply for a visa in neighboring French Guiana in the city of Cayenne, a passport is submitted, a copy of the passport, 2 photographs, a completed application, the cost of registration is 40 euros, the time for reviewing documents and issuing a visa is 3 working days. To enter a rented vehicle, you will also need insurance for the car.
Currency and money of Suriname
The national currency of the country is the Surinamese dollar SRD, equal to 100 cents, previously the Surinamese guilder was used in the country, but after complications in relations with the Netherlands, it was replaced by the dollar. In circulation are banknotes of 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 dollars and coins of 250, 100, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cent.
Banks and currency exchange
Tourists can exchange a small amount of dollars for local dollars, but American currency is accepted almost everywhere, with the difference that the conversion rate may not be the most profitable, so budget tourists can still be recommended to exchange money first. When exchanging money, take your passport with you and keep receipts. Credit cards are accepted in large stores, hotels and some restaurants; you can also travel to Suriname with traveler's checks in US dollars.
Suriname Tourism
A large number of foreign tourists visit Suriname for its biodiversity, the pristine Amazonian rainforests in the south of the country, and the hotel and car rental sector. The Central Suriname Reserve is the largest and one of the most popular reserves in the world, along with Brownsberg Nature Park and Brokopondo Reservoir, which is one of the largest artificial lakes in the world. Tourists come to Suriname to look at the amazingly beautiful local waterfalls. Suriname is a great place for ornithologists. 30% of Suriname's territories are state-protected nature reserves, all of which are open to the public.
Education in Suriname
In Suriname, education is compulsory up to the age of 12, 94% of the population is literate, but more so for men. The capital is home to the main university of the country called Anton de Kom.
Culture of Suriname
The local culture is very diverse and dynamic, and developed under strong Asian and African influences, influenced by the Netherlands, India, China and Indonesia, as well as the indigenous peoples who lived in the area prior to the arrival of European settlers. About 90% of the people living in Suriname today have ancestors who come from other countries and regions.
Music Suriname
Indo-Caribbean traditions are alive in Suriname, caseco music - a dance of former slaves on plantations, a fusion of many styles and folklore from Europe, Africa, North and South America, rhythmically complex percussion instruments, including bass drum, saxophone, trumpet, trombone. After World War II, jazz and calypso became popular.
Cuisine of Suriname
You can talk endlessly about the diversity of Surinamese cuisine, which includes the traditions of Indian, African, Indonesian, Dutch, Portuguese, Jewish and Indian cuisine. Roti pies, cassava rice dishes are popular, chicken, salted meat, dried fish, eggplant, beans, peppers are always on the table.
Holidays and weekends in Suriname
March - Holi
March - April - Easter
Also, locals celebrate some Hindu and Islamic national holidays, these holidays do not have specific dates as they are based on the Gregorian calendar.
Some holidays are unique and held only in Suriname, these are the Javanese and Chinese arrivals, marking the arrival of the first ships with immigrants from Indonesia and China.
New Year in Suriname is called the "old year", the most interesting thing in the celebration of the new year in Suriname is the competition in launching firecracker ribbons into the air.
Sports and entertainment in Suriname
The main sport in Suriname is football, so in the teams of the Netherlands many football players come from Suriname, including the famous Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, Ryan Babel, Patrick Kluivert. The second most important is cricket.
Transport in Suriname
Suriname and neighboring Guyana are the only countries on mainland America where car traffic is on the left side, if everything is clear with Guyana, it was a British colony, then not everything is clear with Suriname. Probably the first cars in Suriname were British-made and designed for left-hand traffic when car culture was born in Suriname. The Netherlands, just like Britain was a left-hand country when the Netherlands changed to the right side at the end of the 18th century - Suriname did not.
All roads in Suriname were built by the Dutch, Railway connected Paramaribo with the east of the country, trains ran from 1912 until 1987, but the line turned out to be unprofitable and simply closed, in some sections you can still see rusting passenger trains. Majority highways in Suriname not paved. Seaports in Paramaribo and Wageningen.
Attractions Suriname
The city of Paramaribo is located at the mouth of the Suriname River with the central Independence Square between the presidential palace and the city park, near the coast with the Fort Zeelandia fortress, inside which the Suriname Museum settled. Near the fortress there is a wooden Roman Catholic Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul built in the 19th century. Through the city market you can get to the Kulturtuin Park and the beaches of the Kekemba resort, and you can also go on an excursion to the town of Malobbi and the Blommestein reservoir. Tourists visit the Brownsburg Nature Park, the Irene and Leo Falls, the town of Brownsweg and the Whittycreek resort.
