THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND
SOCIAL SITUATIONS IN
SURINAME AND OTHER
CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES
February 27, 2008
Content
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Welcome to Suriname
Location
Population
Culture
Language
Economic Summary
Regional Cooperation
Relations with PRC
Welcome to Suriname
• The Republic of Suriname
• In all three Guyana’s, there once lived the
indigenous tribe, named “Surinen”. According to
historians, the name Suriname derived from
them. Suriname is also revered to as:
“The beating heart of the Amazon”
• Motto / Coat of Arms:
• Justitia – Pietas – Fides (Latin)
Climate
Suriname has a humid, tropical climate
with temperatures ranging from 23
degrees Centigrade at night to 37 degrees
Centigrade in the afternoon during some
months of the year. There are 2 seasons,
a dry and a rainy seasons and it’s always
“green” in Suriname.
Location
The Republic of Suriname is situated at the
continent of South America just North of
the Equator. Suriname is bordered in the
South by the Federal Republic of Brazil, in
the North by the Atlantic Ocean, in the
East by the French Overseas Department
of French Guyana and in the West by the
former British colony Guyana, now the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
On the West Bank of the Suriname River lies the
capital city Paramaribo. The name is derived
from “Parmurbo” – an indigenous village dating
back to the seventeenth century. Paramaribo is
an extended city with few tall buildings. Its whitepainted monumental wooden buildings with
foundation made of red bricks typically marking
this historic city. In 2002, the United Nations
Cultural Organization UNESCO placed the inner
city of Paramaribo on the World Heritage List,
because of its historic importance. Paramaribo is
also known as the "wooden city" of the
Caribbean and Latin America.
Population
Suriname has 450,000 inhabitants (2007 estimate);
average annual rate of natural increase is 1.5 percent.
The population in the capital is approximately 240.000
residents. The inhabitants of Suriname forefathers came
from all over the world. The varied composition of the
population dates back to the colonial period. The original
inhabitants, the indigenous Amerindian people had to
deal with European domination, with particular reference
to Dutch dominance. Ever since 1650 the colonial rulers
forced Africans into slavery and send them to Suriname.
There descendants are known as Afro-Surinamers or
Creoles. The Maroons are descendants of the runaway
slaves.
In 1853, the first Chinese contract laborers
arrived in Suriname for the plantations.
After the abolition of slavery in 1863, also
contract laborers from India and Indonesia
came to work in Suriname. During the
colonial period Jews, Lebanese and
Europeans immigrated to Suriname. Long
afterwards, Guyanese, Haitians, Brazilians,
people from China and others decided to
make Suriname their home as well.
Culture
Due to the mix of population groups,
Surinamese culture is very diverse, which
make the Surinamese nationals extremely
proud of their rich culture.
• Ethnicity: Hindustani (also known locally
as "East Indians"; their ancestors
emigrated from Northern India in the latter
part of the 19th century) 37%, Creole
(mixed European and African ancestry
31%, Javanese 15.3%, "Maroons" (their
African ancestors were brought to the
country in the 17th and 18th centuries as
slaves and escaped to the interior) 10.3%,
Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese 1.7 %,
Europeans 1%, others, mainly Jews and
Syrians 1.1%.
Religions
• Hindu 27.4 percent; Protestant 25.2
percent; Roman Catholic 22.8 percent;
Muslim19.6 percent; indigenous believes
about 5 percent.
Language
The official language is Dutch, but Suriname recognizes
about twenty five other local languages. The “Lingua
Franca” is “Sranan Tongo”, with words originally from
African, English, Portuguese and Dutch. “Sarnami
Hindustani” is a Surinamese variant of Hindi that is freely
spoken by the Hindustanis (Surinamese descendants of
Indian immigrants). Javanese, Chinese, Maroons, as
well as the indigenous people speak their original
languages or a variation thereof. English and Portuguese
are also widely spoken, especially at tourist oriented
facilities and stores.
Economic Summary
Both the natural resources on land and in the sea give
Suriname the 17th on a ranking of rich countries in the
world. The economy is dominated by the mining industry,
which accounts for more than a third of the GDP and
subjects government revenues to mineral price volatility.
The short term economic outlook is good. Suriname’s
prospects for the medium term depend on the continued
commitment of the Government to responsible monetary
and fiscal policies. The government under the leadership
of His Excellency President Venetiaan implemented an
austerity program, raised some taxes and controlled
spending. Economic policies are likely to remain the
same.
Prospects for on and offshore oil
production are good as a drilling program
is underway. Offshore drilling was given a
substantial boost in 2004 when the State
Oil Company (“Staatsolie N.V.”) signed
exploration agreements with Repsol,
Maersk and Occidental. Bidding on these
new offshore blocks was completed in
2006. New investment in the bauxite and
gold mining sectors are also on their way.
Industries
Bauxite (Suriname ranks fourth among the
world's producers of bauxite); crude and
refined oil; gold mining; lumbering; food
processing; fisheries.
Natural Resources: bauxite; hydro carbons;
gold; hydro power; timber; fish; kaolin; and
small amounts of iron ore, nickel, copper
and platinum.
Agriculture Products: rice; bananas; palm
kernels; coconuts; plantains; peanuts;
citrus; vegetables; livestock; poultry; forest
products and shrimps
Tourism
Regional Cooperation
Suriname became a member of the Caribbean
Community (CARICOM in 1995) and is also a
member of CARIFORUM. Suriname has made
steps to integrate its economy into the regional
and global economies. As a member of
CARICOM, Suriname has reduced its import
tariffs. Given the amount of natural resources,
Suriname can play a prominent role in the
development of the CARICOM. Suriname joined
the Caribbean countries in forming the
association of Caribbean States (ACS).
Suriname has been a full member of the WTO
since its establishment in 1995. Suriname is
currently as an ACP member negotiating an
Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), with
the European Union as part of the Cotonou
Agreement. Suriname ratified the Amazon Cooperation Agreement, which aims at the
development of the people of the Amazon region
(8 countries). Suriname is member of the
Organization of American States (OAS) which
Headquarter is based in Washington DC.
Relations with the PRC
On May 28, 1976, the People's Republic of
China formally established diplomatic
relations with the Republic of Suriname. In
May 1977, China set up its embassy in
Suriname, and Suriname opened its
embassy in China in Jan. 1998
Since the establishment of diplomatic ties,
our two countries have carried fruitful
cooperation in political, economic, military
and cultural fields. In international affairs,
our two countries always support each
other and cooperate closely
Thank you