NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Suriname

Suriname^[1], (Dutch: Republiek van Suriname), officially the Republic of Suriname (traditionally spelled Surinam in English, but lately the Dutch spelling is more widely accepted; in Sranan Tongo Sranan), is a country in northern South America. Suriname was formerly known as Nederlands Guyana, Netherlands Guiana or Dutch Guiana. Suriname is situated between French Guiana to the east and Guyana to the west. The southern border is shared with Brazil and the northern border is the Atlantic coast. The southernmost border with French Guiana is disputed along the Marowijne river; while the once-disputed boundary with Guyana was arbitrated by the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea on September 20, 2007. The country is the smallest sovereign state in terms of area and population in South America. Image File history File links Flag_of_Suriname. ... Image File history File links Coat_of_arms_of_Suriname. ... Categories: National flags | Suriname | Stub ... On 25 November, 1975 the independent Republic of Suriname adopted an official coat of arms. ... For other uses, see Motto (disambiguation). ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a countrys government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ... God zij met ons Suriname or Opo kondreman is the national anthem of Suriname. ... Image File history File links LocationSuriname. ... Not to be confused with capitol. ... Most Surinamers live in the narrow, northern coastal plain. ... Paramaribo (nicknamed Parbo) is the capital of Suriname, located in the Paramaribo district, with a population of roughly 250,000 people. ... An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... A regional language is a language spoken in a part of a country, be it may be a small area, a federal state or province, or a wider area. ... Sranan (also Sranan Tongo Surinamean tongue, Surinaams, Surinamese, Suriname Creole English) is a creole language spoken as a native language by approximately 120,000 people in Suriname. ... Hindi (DevanÄgarÄ«: or , IAST: , IPA: ), an Indo-European language spoken all over India in varying degrees and extensively in northern and central India, is one of the 22 official languages of India and is used, along with English, for central government administrative purposes. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... The word Hindustani is an adjective used to denote a connection to India, or, more precisely, the historical region that encompasses Northern India, Pakistan, and nearby areas. ... Javanese is a term used to describe a native of the Indonesian island of Java. ... Hakka (Simplified Chinese: å®¢å®¶è¯, Traditional Chinese: å®¢å®¶è©±, Pronunciation in Hakka: Hak-ka-fa/-va, Pinyin: KÃ¨jiÄhuÃ ) is a spoken variation of the Chinese language spoken predominantly in southern China by the Hakka ethnic group and descendants in diaspora throughout East and Southeast Asia and around the world. ... This article is about all of the Cantonese (Yue) dialects. ... The word Boni can have the following meanings: The boni (good men) political faction of the late Roman Republic, also called the Optimates. ... Saramaccan (autonym: Saamáka) is a creole spoken by about 24,000 people near the Saramaccan and upper Suriname Rivers in Suriname, and 2,000 in French Guiana. ... Ndyuka (or Ndjuka, officially NdyukÃ¡tongo) is a language of Suriname. ... The Kwinti are an ethnic group living in the forested interior of Suriname, and the eponymous term for their language, which has less than 1,000 speakers. ... The Arawakan languages are an indigenous language family of South America and the Caribbean. ... Aluku is the linguistic entity of the eponymuous tribe in Suriname. ... The Carib languages are an indigenous language family of South America. ... A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a people or the inhabitants of a place. ... Parliamentary republics around the world, shown in Orange (Parliamentary republics with a non-executive President) and Green (Parliamentary republics with an executive President linked to Parliament). ... The President of the Republic of Suriname (Dutch: President van de Republiek Suriname) is, in accordance with the Constitution of 1987, the head of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of Suriname. ... Ronald Runaldo Venetiaan (born June 18, 1936) is a mathematician[citation needed] and the current president of Suriname. ... is the 329th day of the year (330th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here surface areas between 100,000 kmÂ² and 1,000,000 kmÂ². ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (â‰ˆ1,609 m) in length. ... Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ... A percentage is a way of expressing a proportion, a ratio or a fraction as a whole number, by using 100 as the denominator. ... Map of countries by population for the year 2007 This is a list of countries ordered according to population. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... Population density by country, 2006 List of countries and dependencies by population density in inhabitants/kmÂ². The list includes sovereign states and self-governing dependent territories that are recognized by the United Nations. ... PPP of GDP for the countries of the world (2003). ... There are three lists of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year). ... Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head. ... This article includes two lists of countries of the world[1] sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) at purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita, the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year divided by the average population for the same year. ... This page talks about Human Development Index, for other HDIs see HDI (disambiguation) World map indicating Human Development Index (2007). ... This talks about the countries in the Human Development Index, for information on the Human Development Index, please Click Here World map indicating Human Development Index (2007) (Colour-blind compliant map) For red-green color vision problems. ... The dollar (currency code SRD) has been the currency of Suriname since 2004. ... ISO 4217 is the international standard describing three letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... UTC redirects here. ... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... UTC redirects here. ... A country code top-level domain (ccTLD) is a top-level domain used and reserved for a country or a dependent territory. ... . ... This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E.164. ... Sranan (also Sranan Tongo Surinamean tongue, Surinaams, Surinamese, Suriname Creole English) is a creole language spoken as a native language by approximately 120,000 people in Suriname. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Geographical renaming is the act of changing the name of a geographical feature or area. ... Atlantic and North Atlantic redirect here. ... The Maroni or Marowijne River is a river that originates in the Tumuc-Humac Mountains, it forms the (disputed) border between French Guiana and Suriname. ... United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Opened for signature December 10, 1982 in Montego Bay (Jamaica) Entered into force November 16, 1994[1] Conditions for entry into force 60 ratifications Parties 153[2] The term United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS, also called simply... is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... â€œSovereignâ€ redirects here. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ...

History

The indigenous "Surinen," from whom the country's name derives, were the area's earliest known inhabitants. By the 16th century, however, the Surinen had been driven out by other native South American Indians, namely the laka laka maloi and Carib tribes. // Native American period The history of Suriname dates from 3000 BCE, when Native Americans first inhabited the area. ... Carib family (by John Gabriel Stedman) Drawing of a Carib woman Carib, Island Carib or Kalinago people, after whom the Caribbean Sea was named, live in the Lesser Antilles islands. ...

European exploration of the area began in the 16th century by Dutch, French, Spanish and English explorers. In the 17th century, plantation colonies were established by the Dutch and English along the many rivers in the fertile Guyana plains. At the Treaty of Breda, in 1667, the Dutch decided to keep the nascent plantation colony of Suriname conquered from the British, while leaving the small trading post of New Amsterdam in North America, now New York City, in the hands of the British. For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... The Treaty of Breda was signed at the Dutch city of Breda, July 31, 1667, by England, the United Provinces (the Netherlands), France, and Denmark. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ...

The Dutch planters relied heavily on African slaves to cultivate the coffee, cocoa, sugar cane and cotton plantations along the rivers. Treatment of the slaves by their owners was notoriously bad, and many slaves escaped the plantations. With the help of the native South Americans living in the adjoining rain forests, these runaway slaves established a new and unique culture that was highly successful in its own right. Known collectively in English as the Maroons, and in Dutch as "Bosnegers," (literally meaning "Bush negroes"), they actually established several independent tribes, among them the Saramaka, the Paramaka, the Ndyuka or Aukan, the Kwinti, the Aluku or Boni and the Matawai. Slavery is any of a number of related conditions involving control of a person against his or her will, enforced by violence or other clear forms of coercion. ... For other uses, see Native Americans (disambiguation). ... The word Maroon can have the following meanings: Maroon is a color mixture composed of brown and purple. ... Saramaka, sometimes spelled Saramacca is the name of a group of Maroons (escaped African slaves) who established small communities along the Surinam river in Suriname during the XVIII century and are now present in Suriname and in French Guiana. ... Ndyuka (or Ndjuka, officially NdyukÃ¡tongo) is a language of Suriname. ... The Kwinti are an ethnic group living in the forested interior of Suriname, and the eponymous term for their language, which has less than 1,000 speakers. ... Aluku is the linguistic entity of the eponymuous tribe in Suriname. ...

The Maroons would often raid the plantations to recruit new members, acquire women, weapons, food and supplies. These attacks were often deadly for the planters and their families, and after several unsuccessful campaigns against the Maroons, the European authorities signed several peace treaties with them in the 19th century, granting the Maroons sovereign status and trade rights.

Slavery was abolished by the Netherlands in Suriname in 1863, but the slaves in Suriname were not fully released until 1873, after a mandatory 10 year transition period during which time they were required to work on the plantations for minimal pay and without state sanctioned torture. As soon as they became truly free, the slaves largely abandoned the plantations where they had suffered for several generations, in favor of the city, Paramaribo. As a plantation colony, Suriname was still heavily dependent on manual labor, and to make up for the shortfall, the Dutch brought in contract laborers from the Dutch East Indies (modern Indonesia) and India (through an arrangement with the British). In addition, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, small numbers of mostly men were brought in from China and the Middle East. Although Suriname's population remains relatively small, because of this history it is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse in the world. Paramaribo (nicknamed Parbo) is the capital of Suriname, located in the Paramaribo district, with a population of roughly 250,000 people. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ...

In 1954, the Dutch placed Suriname under a system of limited self-government, with the Netherlands retaining control of defense and foreign affairs. In 1973, the local government, led by the NPK (a largely Creole, meaning ethnically African or mixed African-European, party) started negotiations with the Dutch government leading towards full independence, which was granted on 25 November 1975. The severance package was very substantial, and a large part of Suriname's economy for the first decade following independence was fueled by foreign aid provided by the Dutch government. is the 329th day of the year (330th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The first President of the country was Johan Ferrier, the former governor, with Henck Arron (leader of the Suriname National Party) as Prime Minister. Nearly one third of the population of Suriname at that time emigrated to the Netherlands in the years leading up to independence, as many people feared that the new country would fare worse under independence than it did as an overseas colony of the Netherlands. Suriname's diaspora therefore includes more than a quarter of one million people of Suriname origin living in the Netherlands today, including several recent members of the Dutch national football (soccer) team. Johan Ferrier, born May 12, 1910, was the president of Suriname from 1975-1980. ... Henck Alphonsus EugÃ¨ne Arron (b. ...

On February 25, 1980, a military coup sidelined the democratic government, and with it began a period of economic and social hardship for the country. On 8 December 1982, the military, then under the leadership of Desi Bouterse, rounded up several prominent citizens who were accused of plotting against the government. They were allegedly tortured and certainly killed during the night, and the Netherlands quickly suspended all foreign aid to Suriname after this event. Desi Bouterse is scheduled to stand trial in Suriname in the fall of 2007 for his role in these killings. is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... Democracy is a form of government under which the power to alter the laws and structures of government lies, ultimately, with the citizenry. ... is the 342nd day of the year (343rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Désiré Delano Bouterse of Suriname (born 1945) has been a military sports instructor, coup leader, army leader and a politician in the Nationaal Democratische Partij (NDP). ...

Elections were held in 1987 and a new constitution was adopted, which among other things allowed the dictator to remain in charge of the army. Dissatisfied with the government, Bouterse summarily dismissed them in 1990, by telephone. This event became popularly known as "the telephone coup". Bouterse's power began to wane after the 1991 elections however, and a brutal civil war between the Suriname army and the Maroons loyal to Ronnie Brunswijk further weakened his position during the 1990s. Ronnie Brunswijk (born circa 1962) was the rebel leader of the Junglecommando (JC) in Suriname. ...

Suriname's democracy gained some strength after the turbulent 1990s, and its economy became more diversified and less dependent on Dutch financial assistance. Bauxite (Aluminum ore) mining continues to be a strong revenue source, but the discovery and exploitation of oil and gold has added substantially to Suriname's economic independence. Agriculture, especially of rice and bananas, remains a strong component of the economy, and ecotourism is providing new economic opportunities. More than 80% of Suriname's land-mass consists of unspoiled rain forest, and with the establishment of the Central Suriname Nature Reserve in 1998, Suriname signaled its commitment to conservation of this precious resource. The Central Suriname Nature Reserve became a World Heritage Site in 2000. This article is about the ore. ... Tapanti National Park in Costa Rica Ecotourism, also known as ecological tourism, is a form of tourism that appeals to the ecologically and socially conscious individuals. ... The Central Suriname Nature Reserve was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 for its pristine tropical rainforest ecosystem. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State...

Administrative divisions

Suriname is further subdivided into 62 resorts (ressorten). Suriname is divided into 10 districts. ... Resorts of Suriname The districts of Suriname are divided into 62 resorts (ressorten). ... Local government areas called districts are used, or have been used, in several countries. ... Brokopondo is a district of Suriname. ... Commewijne is a district of Suriname, located on the right bank of the Suriname River. ... Map of Suriname showing Coronie district Coronie is a district of Suriname, situated on the coast. ... Marowijne is a district of Suriname, located on the north-east coast. ... Nickerie is a district of Suriname, on the north-west coast. ... Para is a district of Suriname, in the north. ... This article is about the district of Paramaribo. ... Saramacca is a district of Suriname, in the north. ... Map of Suriname showing Sipaliwini district Sipaliwini is the largest district of Suriname, located in the south. ... Map of Suriname showing Wanica district Wanica is a district of Suriname, in the northeast. ...

Geography

Suriname is the smallest independent country in South America. Situated on the Guiana Shield, the country can be divided into two main geographic regions. The northern, lowland coastal area (roughly above the line Albina-Paranam-Wageningen) has been cultivated, and most of the population lives here. The southern part consists of tropical rainforest and sparsely inhabited savanna along the border with Brazil, covering about 80% of Suriname's land surface. // Suriname is located in northern South America and is part of Caribbean South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana. ... map of Suriname, converted directly from CIA World Factbook GIF File links The following pages link to this file: Suriname Geography of Suriname Categories: CIA World Factbook images ... map of Suriname, converted directly from CIA World Factbook GIF File links The following pages link to this file: Suriname Geography of Suriname Categories: CIA World Factbook images ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... I inherited this photo from my father, Ted hill, who took it. ... I inherited this photo from my father, Ted hill, who took it. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 599 pixelsFull resolution (1280 Ã— 958 pixel, file size: 217 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) NASA World Wind screenshot. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 599 pixelsFull resolution (1280 Ã— 958 pixel, file size: 217 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) NASA World Wind screenshot. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Mt Roraima in Guyana The Guiana Shield (Spanish: Guayana) forms a portion of the northern coast of South America. ... Shields are shown in orange. ... The Daintree Rainforest in Queensland, Australia. ... Savannah redirects here. ... For other uses, see Border (disambiguation). ...

There are two main mountain ranges in Suriname: the Bakhuys Mountains and the Van Asch Van Wijck Mountains. Julianatop is the highest mountain in the country at 1,286 metres (4,219 ft) above sea level. Other mountains include Tafelberg (1,026 m; 3,366 ft), Mount Kasikasima (718 m; 2,356 ft), Goliathberg (358 m; 1,174 ft) and Voltzberg (240 m; 787 ft). This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... For considerations of sea level change, in particular rise associated with possible global warming, see sea level rise. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, â€² â€“ a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ...

Lying on the equator, Suriname has a very hot tropical climate, and temperatures do not vary a lot throughout the year. The year has two wet seasons, from April to August and from November to February. It also has two dry seasons, from August to November and February to April. World map showing the equator in red In tourist areas, the equator is often marked on the sides of roads The equator marked as it crosses IlhÃ©u das Rolas, in SÃ£o TomÃ© and PrÃncipe. ... A wet season or rainy season is a season in which the average rainfall in a region is significantly increased. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Located in the northeast portion of the country is the Brokopondo Reservoir, one of the largest reservoir lakes in the world. It was created in 1964 by the Afobakka dam (the Brokopondo Project), built to provide hydropower for the bauxite industry (which consumes about 75% of the output) and for domestic consumption. A map of Suriname showing the location of the Brokopondo Reservoir and its Dutch name. ... Undershot water wheels on the Orontes River in Hama, Syria Saint Anthony Falls Hydropower or hydraulic power is the force or energy of moving water. ... This article is about the ore. ...

In the upper Coppename River watershed, the Central Suriname Nature Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site cited for its unspoiled rainforest biodiversity. There are many national parks in the country: Galibi National Reserve, Coppename Manding National Park and Wia Wia NR along the coast, Brownsberg NR, Raleighvallen/Voltzeberg NR, Tafelberg NR and Eilerts de Haan NP in the centre and the Sipaliwani NR on the Brazilian border. In all, 12% of the country's land area are national parks and lakes. The Coppename is a river in Suriname (South America) in the district of Sipaliwini, forming part of the boundary between the districts of Coronie and Saramacca. ... A drainage basin is the area within the drainage basin divide (blue outline), and drains the surface runoff and river discharge (green lines) of a contiguous area. ... The Central Suriname Nature Reserve was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 for its pristine tropical rainforest ecosystem. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... Rainforests are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth Biodiversity is the variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome or for the entire Earth. ...

Tourism

This sector has been growing for the last years. For example in the last years they have been building big hotels al over the country to satisfy the need of the tourist and of the growing tourism. In december 2007 the first 5 star hotel (Royal Torarica) was opened in the night district by the Suriname river. When this hotel is finished it will have approximately 300 rooms and a presidental suite on the top floor. Other hotels (4 stars) in Suriname are Krasnapolsky, Residence inn, Torarica, Queens hotel, princess hotel, Spanhoek hotel, etc. The apartments or the ¨rent a house¨ are now very popular in Suriname.

Economy

The economy of Suriname is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for more than 15% of GDP and 70% of export earnings. Other main export products include rice and bananas. Suriname has recently started exploiting some of its sizeable oil^[2] and gold^[3] reserves. About a quarter of the people work in the agricultural sector. The Surinamese economy is very dependent on other countries, with its main trade partners being the Netherlands, the United States and countries in the Caribbean. The backbone of Surinames economy is the export of alumina and small amounts of aluminum produced from bauxite mined in the country. ... This article is about the ore. ... For other uses, see Rice (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Petro redirects here. ... GOLD refers to one of the following: GOLD (IEEE) is an IEEE program designed to garner more student members at the university level (Graduates of the Last Decade). ... West Indies redirects here. ...

After assuming power in the fall of 1996, the Wijdenbosch government ended the structural adjustment program of the previous government, claiming it was unfair to the poorer elements of society. Tax revenues fell as old taxes lapsed and the government failed to implement new tax alternatives. By the end of 1997, the allocation of new Dutch development funds was frozen as Surinamese Government relations with the Netherlands deteriorated. Economic growth slowed in 1998, with decline in the mining, construction, and utility sectors. Rampant government expenditures, poor tax collection, a bloated civil service, and reduced foreign aid in 1999 contributed to the fiscal deficit, estimated at 11% of GDP. The government sought to cover this deficit through monetary expansion, which led to a dramatic increase in inflation. Jules Albert Wijdenbosch (born 1941) is a politician in Suriname. ... Structural adjustment is a term used to describe the policy changes implemented by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (the Bretton Woods Institutions) in developing countries. ... â€œTaxesâ€ redirects here. ... This article is about mineral extractions. ... For other uses, see Construction (disambiguation). ...

GDP (2006 est.): U.S. $2.11 billion. Annual growth rate real GDP (2006 est.): 5.8%. Per capita GDP (2006 est.): U.S. $4,000. Inflation (2006): 5.6%. Natural resources: Bauxite, gold, oil, iron ore, other minerals; forests; hydroelectric potential; fish and shrimp. Agriculture: Products--rice, bananas, timber, and citrus fruits. Industry: Types--alumina, oil, gold, fish, shrimp, lumber. Trade (2005): Exports--U.S. $929.1 million: alumina, gold, crude oil, wood and wood products, rice, bananas, fish, and shrimp. Major markets--Norway (23.9%), U.S. (16.8%), Canada (16.4%), France (8.1%), Iceland (2.9%). Imports--$1.1 billion: capital equipment, petroleum, iron and steel products, agricultural products, and consumer goods. Major suppliers--U.S. (24.4%), Netherlands (14.5%), Trinidad and Tobago (10.5%), Japan (4.3%), China (5.4%), Brazil (3.6%).

Politics

The Republic of Suriname is a constitutional democracy based on the 1987 constitution. This article was imported from the CIA World Factbook and needs to be rewritten and/or reformatted in accordance with Wikipedia styles. ...

The legislative branch of government consists of a 51-member unicameral National Assembly, simultaneously and popularly elected for a five-year term.

The president, who is elected for a five-year term by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly or, failing that, by a majority of the People's Assembly, heads the executive branch. If at least two-thirds of the National Assembly cannot agree to vote for one presidential candidate, a People's Assembly is formed from all National Assembly delegates and regional and municipal representatives who were elected by popular vote in the most recent national election. As head of government, the president appoints a 16-minister cabinet. There is no constitutional provision for removal or replacement of the president unless he resigns.

The judiciary is headed by the Court of Justice (Supreme Court). This court supervises the magistrate courts. Members are appointed for life by the president in consultation with the National Assembly, the State Advisory Council and the National Order of Private Attorneys. In April 2005, the regional Caribbean Court of Justice, based in Trinidad, was inaugurated. As the final court of appeal, it was intended to replace the London-based Privy Council.

The country is divided into 10 administrative districts, each headed by a district commissioner appointed by the president. The commissioner is similar to the governor of a United States-type state but is appointed and removed by the president.

Demographics

Suriname's population of 438,144 (July 2005 estimate) is made up of several distinct ethnic groups. And in November 2007 the population was estimated at 494,347. Most Surinamers live in the narrow, northern coastal plain. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

There is no predominant religion in the country. Christianity, both in the form of Roman Catholicism and variations of Protestantism, is dominant among Creoles and Maroons. Most of the Hindustani are Hindu, but some practice Islam or Christianity instead. Also the Javanese practice either Islam or Christianity. With 20% of the population, Suriname has the largest Muslim community by percentage in the New World.^[4] Despite the religious diversity, the makeup of Suriname's population is very similar to that of neighboring Guyana, with the exception of the Indonesian population (which Guyana lacks). French Guiana, which is a part of France, does not collect ethnic statistics. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Bihar (disambiguation). ... , Uttar Pradesh (Hindi: , Urdu: , IPA: , translation: Northern Province), [often referred to as U.P.], located in central-south Asia and northern India, is the most populous and fifth largest state in the Republic of India. ... For the languages, see Creole language The term Creole is used with different meanings in different contexts, which can generate confusion. ... West African refers to: West Africa An airline: West African Airlines [1] This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Javanese is a term used to describe a native of the Indonesian island of Java. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article needs cleanup. ... West African refers to: West Africa An airline: West African Airlines [1] This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Kwinti are an ethnic group living in the forested interior of Suriname, and the eponymous term for their language, which has less than 1,000 speakers. ... Saramaccan (autonym: Saamáka) is a creole spoken by about 24,000 people near the Saramaccan and upper Suriname Rivers in Suriname, and 2,000 in French Guiana. ... The Paramaccan are an ethnic group living in the forested interior of Suriname, and the eponymous term for their dialect, which has less than 1,000 speakers. ... For other uses, see Native Americans (disambiguation). ... Arowak woman (John Gabriel Stedman) The term Arawak (from aru, the Lokono word for cassava flour), was used to designate the Amerindians encountered by the Spanish in the West Indies. ... Carib family (by John Gabriel Stedman) Drawing of a Carib woman Carib, Island Carib or Kalinago people, after whom the Caribbean Sea was named, live in the Lesser Antilles islands. ... The KaliÃ±a (sometime called Galibi) are an indigenous people of South America who lives in Surinam, French Guyana (between 2,800 and 4,000 people). ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Languages Historical Jewish languages Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino, others Liturgical languages: Hebrew and Aramaic Predominant spoken languages: The vernacular language of the home nation in the Diaspora, significantly including English, Hebrew, Yiddish, and Russian Religions Judaism Related ethnic groups Arabs and other Semitic groups For the Jewish religion, see Judaism. ... Language(s) Hebrew, Ladino, JudÃ¦o-Portuguese, Catalanic, Shuadit, local languages Religion(s) Judaism Related ethnic groups Ashkenazi Jews, Mizrahi Jews, other Jewish ethnic divisions, Arabs, Spaniards, Portuguese. ... Statistical regions of Europe as delineated by the United Nations (UN definition of Eastern Europe marked red): Northern Europe Western Europe Eastern Europe Southern Europe Pre-1989 division between the West (grey) and Eastern Bloc (orange) superimposed on current borders: Russia (dark orange), other countries formerly part of the USSR... Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim (×Ö·×©×Ö°×›Ö¼Ö²× Ö¸×–Ö´×™ ×Ö·×©×Ö°×›Ö¼Ö²× Ö¸×–Ö´×™× Standard Hebrew, AÅ¡kanazi,AÅ¡kanazim, Tiberian Hebrew, Ê¾AÅ¡kÄƒnÄzÃ®, Ê¾AÅ¡kÄƒnÄzÃ®m, pronounced sing. ... The Federative Republic of Brazil (República Federativa do Brasil in Portuguese) is the largest and most populous country in South America, and fifth largest in the world. ... A typical gold mining operation, on Bonanza Creek The Klondike Gold Rush was a frenzy of gold rush immigration to and gold prospecting in the Klondike near Dawson City in the Yukon Territory, Canada, after gold was discovered in the late 19th century. ... Topics in Christianity Movements Â· Denominations Ecumenism Â· Relation to other religions Preaching Â· Prayer Music Â· Liturgy Â· Calendar Symbols Â· Art Â· Criticism Christianity Portal This box: Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Protestantism encompasses the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated with the doctrines of the Reformation. ... Hinduism is a religious tradition[1] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... Topics in Christianity Movements Â· Denominations Ecumenism Â· Relation to other religions Preaching Â· Prayer Music Â· Liturgy Â· Calendar Symbols Â· Art Â· Criticism Christianity Portal This box: Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... Topics in Christianity Movements Â· Denominations Ecumenism Â· Relation to other religions Preaching Â· Prayer Music Â· Liturgy Â· Calendar Symbols Â· Art Â· Criticism Christianity Portal This box: Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ...

The vast majority of people (about 90%) live in Paramaribo or on the coast. There is also a significant Surinamese population in the Netherlands. In 2005 there were 328,300 Surinamese people living in the Netherlands, which is about 2% of the total population of the Netherlands (compared to 438,144 in Suriname). Paramaribo (nicknamed Parbo) is the capital of Suriname, located in the Paramaribo district, with a population of roughly 250,000 people. ...

Languages

An exceptional variety of languages is spoken in Suriname.^[5] Sranan Tongo, a local creole language, is the most widely used language. Dutch is the official language and the mother tongue of 60% of the Surinamese. It is used mainly in education, government and the media, often interchangeably with Sranan depending on the formality of the setting.^[5] Surinamese Hindi, a dialect of Bhojpuri, is the third-most used language, spoken by the descendants of British Asian contract workers. Javanese is spoken by the descendants of Javanese contract workers. The Maroon languages, somewhat intelligible with Sranan Tongo, include Saramaka, Paramakan, Ndyuka, Aukan, Kwinti and Matawai. Amerindian languages, spoken by Amerindians, include Carib and Arawak. Hakka Chinese and Cantonese is spoken by the descendants of the Chinese contract (koelie, coolie) workers. Mandarin is spoken by more recent Chinese immigrants. English, Spanish and Portuguese are also used. Sranan (also Sranan Tongo Surinamean tongue, Surinaams, Surinamese, Suriname Creole English) is a creole language spoken as a native language by approximately 120,000 people in Suriname. ... A creole language, or simply a creole, is a stable language that originates seemingly as a nativized pidgin. ... Bhojpuri is a popular regional language spoken in northeastern India in the western part of state of Bihar, the northwestern part of Jharkhand, and the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh, as well as an adjoining area of southern plains of Nepal. ... The term British Asian is used to denote a person of Southern Asian ancestry or origin, or sometimes Western Asian origin, who was born in or was an immigrant to the United Kingdom. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Body of Ndyuka Maroon child brought before a shaman, Suriname 1955 A Maroon (from the word marronage or American/Spanish cimarrÃ³n: fugitive, runaway, lit. ... Saramaka, sometimes spelled Saramacca is the name of a group of Maroons (escaped African slaves) who established small communities along the Surinam river in Suriname during the XVIII century and are now present in Suriname and in French Guiana. ... The Paramaccan are an ethnic group living in the forested interior of Suriname, and the eponymous term for their dialect, which has less than 1,000 speakers. ... Ndyuka (or Ndjuka, officially NdyukÃ¡tongo) is a language of Suriname. ... The Kwinti are an ethnic group living in the forested interior of Suriname, and the eponymous term for their dialect, which has less than 1,000 speakers. ... Native Americans (also Indians, Aboriginal Peoples, American Indians, First Nations, Alaskan Natives, or Indigenous Peoples of America) are the indigenous inhabitants of The Americas prior to the European colonization, and their modern descendants. ... The Cariban languages are an indigenous language family of South America. ... The Arawakan languages (also Arahuacan, Arawakanas, Arahuacano, Maipurean, Maipuran, Maipureano, MaipÃºrean) are a hypothetical indigenous language family of South America and the Caribbean. ... Hakka (Simplified Chinese: å®¢å®¶è¯, Traditional Chinese: å®¢å®¶è©±, Pronunciation in Hakka: Hak-ka-fa/-va, Pinyin: KÃ¨jiÄhuÃ ) is a spoken variation of the Chinese language spoken predominantly in southern China by the Hakka ethnic group and descendants in diaspora throughout East and Southeast Asia and around the world. ... This article is about all of the Cantonese (Yue) dialects. ... Map of eastern China and Taiwan, showing the historic distribution of Mandarin Chinese in light brown. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

The public discourse about Suriname's languages is a part of ongoing debates about the country's national identity.^[5] While Dutch is perceived as a remnant of colonialism by some,^[5] the use of the popular Sranan became associated with nationalist politics after its public use by former dictator Dési Bouterse in the 1980s,^[5] and groups descended from runaway slaves like the Maroons resent it.^[5] There are frequent proposals in Parliament to change the national language to English, so as to improve links to the Caribbean and North America, or to Spanish, as a nod to Suriname's geography.^[5] DÃ©sirÃ© Delano Bouterse of Suriname (born 1945) has been a military sports instructor, coup leader, army leader and a politician in the Nationale Democratische Partij (NDP). ... The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... West Indies redirects here. ... North American redirects here. ...

Culture

Due to the policy of the Dutch East India Company and West India Company, there are many different ethnic groups in Suriname. Ethnicities/races are: East Indian 37%, Surinamese creole 31%, Javanese 15%, Surinamese Maroon 10%, Amerindian 2%, Chinese 2%, other 2%, White 1%. Roman Catholicism in Suriname is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, and is under the spiritual leadership of the Bishop of Rome, Pope Benedict XVI. There are 110,664 Catholics in Suriname, around 23% of the population. ... Suriname is a South American country, a former colony of the Netherlands with strong ties to that country. ... Hindu communities are found in several countries of South America, but they are most strong in Guyana and Suriname. ... Download high resolution version (671x694, 141 KB)I inherited this photo from my father, Ted Hill, who took it. ... Download high resolution version (671x694, 141 KB)I inherited this photo from my father, Ted Hill, who took it. ... This article is about the trading company. ... Dutch West India Company (Dutch: West-Indische Compagnie or WIC) was a company of Dutch merchants. ...

National celebrations

january 1- new yearsday may 1 - labour day july 1 - emancipation day ( end of slavery) november 25 - independance day december 25 - Christmas day december 26 - second Christmas day

New years eve

New years eve in Surinam called ¨Oud jaar¨ which means old year, is one of the days the Surinamees population goes to the center of the city to watch a firework presentation. These celebracions start at 10 o´clock in the morning and finish the next day. This day is filled with laughter, dance, music, drinking etc. The national tradition is that the main stores in the capital shoot fireworks (a special kind they use for these ocations) at night there are street parties everywhere in the city, but the most popular is the one in the night district. The parties there stop between 10 and 11 o´clock. After that the people go home to their families and friend to light the ¨pagara¨¨ at 12 o´clock. After 12 the parties continue.

Miscellaneous

Suriname (referred to as 'Surinam') is the setting for the largest part of Aphra Behn's classic novella, Oroonoko. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... A sketch of Aphra Behn by George Scharf from a portrait believed to be lost. ... First edition of Oroonoko, 1688 Oroonoko is a short novel by Aphra Behn (?1640 â€“ April 16, 1689), published in 1688, concerning the tragic love of its hero, an enslaved African in Surinam in the 1660s, and the authors own experiences in the new South American colony. ...

The 1962 film The Straight Road, directed by Robert Maslligan and starring Roug Hudson, was filmed in Suriname (then Dutch Guiana).

Chapter 19 of Voltaire's classic Candide is set in Suriname. For other uses, see Voltaire (disambiguation). ... For the Bernstein operetta based on the book, see Candide (operetta). ...

Some of the greatest football players to represent the Netherlands, such as Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit, Patrick Kluivert, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Aron Winter, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Stanley Menzo, and Ryan Babel are of Surinamese descent. Davids in particular has written of his passionate pride in his Surinamese heritage and his love of attending football matches there. There are a number of local heroes in other sports as well, like Primraj Binda, best known as the athlete who dominated the 10 km for nearly a decade, Steven Vismale and Letitia Vriesde. Another notable track athlete from Suriname was Tommy Asinga. Franklin Edmundo Rijkaard (born September 30, 1962 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football manager and former player. ... (born September 1, 1962 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football coach and former player, who played professionally in the 1980s and 1990s. ... Patrick Stephan Kluivert (born July 1, 1976 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch international football striker. ... Edgar Steven Davids (born March 13, 1973 in Paramaribo, Suriname) is a Dutch professional football player. ... Clarence Seedorf (born April 1, 1976 in Paramaribo, Suriname) is a Dutch-Surinamese football midfielder, who currently plays for AC Milan in Serie A. He was the first, and to date, the only person to have won the UEFA Champions League with three different clubs: Ajax (1995), Real Madrid (1998... Aron Winter (born March 1, 1967 in Paramaribo, Surinam) is a retired Dutch footballer. ... Jerrel Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (born 27 March 1972 in Paramaribo, Suriname), usually known as Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink,[1] is a Dutch football striker, currently playing for Cardiff City. ... Stanley Menzo (Paramaribo, October 15, 1963) is a Dutch football (soccer) manager and retired football player. ... Ryan Guno Babel (born 19 December 1986 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch professional football player who currently plays for Liverpool. ... For long track speedskating, see Speed skating. ... Letitia Vriesde (born 5th October 1964) is a track and field athlete from Suriname. ... Tommy Asinga (born 20 November 1968) is a track star from Moengo,Suriname. ...

A European mercenary by the name of Karl Penta organised a successful campaign to destabilise the military regime that ruled Suriname under Dési Bouterse. The European peoples are the various nations and ethnic groups of Europe. ... For other uses, see Mercenary (disambiguation). ... DÃ©sirÃ© Delano Bouterse of Suriname (born 1945) has been a military sports instructor, coup leader, army leader and a politician in the Nationale Democratische Partij (NDP). ...

Anthony Nesty is the only person to win a medal (for swimming) for Suriname at the Olympics. Originally from Trinidad, not Suriname, he now lives in Miami, Florida, USA. Anthony Nesty swimming Anthony Nesty is the first black athlete to win an Olympic medal in swimming. ... The five Olympic rings were designed in 1913, adopted in 1914 and debuted at the Games at Antwerp, 1920. ...

In the film The Silence of the Lambs Suriname is mentioned as the source of a shipment of Death's-head Hawkmoth. The Silence of the Lambs is a 1991 Academy Award-winning film directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. ... Species Acherontia atropos Acherontia styx Acherontia lachesis Variations in the Deaths head pattern The name Deaths-head Hawkmoth usually refers to one of the three species (, and ) of moth in the Acherontia genus. ...

Suriname is featured in the TV series E-Ring. The E Ring is one of the rings of Saturn. ...

Golden Globe and Emmy-winning American actor Jimmy Smits (born in New York City in 1955) was born of a Surinamese father, Cornelis Smits, who immigrated from Dutch Guiana. The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. ... An Emmy Award. ... Jimmy Smits as President Matt Santos on The West Wing. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ...

Mistakenly referred to as being "a country in Africa" by host Mike Rowe on his popular Discovery Channel show Dirty Jobs, and a country in Asia in the film The Silence of the Lambs. A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Mike Gregory Rowe (pronounced: ) (born March 18, 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland) is the host of the television show Dirty Jobs and the narrator of several television shows, primarily on the Discovery Channel. ... Discovery Channel is a cable and satellite TV channel founded by John Hendricks which is distributed by Discovery Communications. ... Dirty Jobs is a program on the Discovery Channel in which host Mike Rowe is shown performing difficult, strange, and/or messy occupational duties alongside professional workers. ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... The Silence of the Lambs is a 1991 Academy Award-winning film directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. ...

In the popular TV show Father Ted, Bishop Brennan suggests that he is going to send Ted to an "island off the coast of Suriname" where two tribes "have been knocking the s**t out of each other since 1907". Father Ted was a popular 1990s television situation comedy set around the lives of three priests on the extremely remote (and completely fictional) Craggy Island off the west coast of Ireland. ... Bishop Leonard Brennan Bishop Leonard Len Brennan is a fictional character played by Jim Norton in the Irish sitcom Father Ted, starring the late Dermot Morgan in the title role. ...