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surinamemore about suriname

suriname


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  Suriname 
  n  :  a  republic  in  northeastern  South  America  on  the  Atlantic 
  [syn:  {Suriname},  {Surinam},  {Dutch  Guiana},  {Netherlands 
  Guiana}] 
 
  From  The  CIA  World  Factbook  (1995)  [world95]: 
 
  Suriname 
 
  Suriname:Geography 
 
  Location:  Northern  South  America,  bordering  the  North  Atlantic  Ocean, 
  between  French  Guiana  and  Guyana 
 
  Map  references:  South  America 
 
  Area: 
  total  area:  163,270  sq  km 
  land  area:  161,470  sq  km 
  comparative  area:  slightly  larger  than  Georgia 
 
  Land  boundaries:  total  1,707  km  Brazil  597  km  French  Guiana  510  km 
  Guyana  600  km 
 
  Coastline:  386  km 
 
  Maritime  claims: 
  exclusive  economic  zone:  200  nm 
  territorial  sea:  12  nm 
 
  International  disputes:  claims  area  in  French  Guiana  between  Litani 
  Rivier  and  Riviere  Marouini  (both  headwaters  of  the  Lawa  Rivier); 
  claims  area  in  Guyana  between  New  (Upper  Courantyne)  and 
  Courantyne/Koetari  Rivers  (all  headwaters  of  the  Courantyne) 
 
  Climate:  tropical;  moderated  by  trade  winds 
 
  Terrain:  mostly  rolling  hills;  narrow  coastal  plain  with  swamps 
 
  Natural  resources:  timber,  hydropower  potential,  fish,  shrimp, 
  bauxite,  iron  ore,  and  small  amounts  of  nickel,  copper,  platinum,  gold 
 
  Land  use: 
  arable  land:  NEGL% 
  permanent  crops:  0% 
  meadows  and  pastures:  0% 
  forest  and  woodland:  97% 
  other:  3% 
 
  Irrigated  land:  590  sq  km  (1989  est.) 
 
  Environment: 
  current  issues:  deforestation  as  foreign  producers  obtain  timber 
  concessions 
  natural  hazards:  NA 
  international  agreements:  party  to  -  Endangered  Species,  Marine 
  Dumping,  Nuclear  Test  Ban,  Ship  Pollution,  Wetlands;  signed,  but  not 
  ratified  -  Biodiversity,  Climate  Change,  Law  of  the  Sea 
 
  Note:  mostly  tropical  rain  forest;  great  diversity  of  flora  and  fauna 
  which  for  the  most  part  is  not  threatened  because  of  the  lack  of 
  development;  relatively  small  population  most  of  which  lives  along  the 
  coast 
 
  Suriname:People 
 
  Population:  429,544  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Age  structure: 
  0-14  years:  34%  (female  70,845;  male  74,330) 
  15-64  years:  61%  (female  130,153;  male  133,693) 
  65  years  and  over:  5%  (female  10,897;  male  9,626)  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Population  growth  rate:  1.58%  (1995  est.) 
 
  Birth  rate:  24.72  births/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Death  rate:  5.91  deaths/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Net  migration  rate:  -3  migrant(s)/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Infant  mortality  rate:  30.2  deaths/1,000  live  births  (1995  est.) 
 
  Life  expectancy  at  birth: 
  total  population:  69.76  years 
  male:  67.24  years 
  female:  72.41  years  (1995  est.) 
 
  Total  fertility  rate:  2.73  children  born/woman  (1995  est.) 
 
  Nationality: 
  noun:  Surinamer(s) 
  adjective:  Surinamese 
 
  Ethnic  divisions:  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%,  "Bush  Black"  (also  known  as  "Bush  Creole"  whose 
  ancestors  were  brought  to  the  country  in  the  17th  and  18th  centuries 
  as  slaves)  10.3%,  Amerindian  2.6%,  Chinese  1.7%,  Europeans  1%,  other 
  1.1% 
 
  Religions:  Hindu  27.4%,  Muslim  19.6%,  Roman  Catholic  22.8%,  Protestant 
  25.2%  (predominantly  Moravian),  indigenous  beliefs  5% 
 
  Languages:  Dutch  (official),  English  (widely  spoken),  Sranang  Tongo 
  (Surinamese,  sometimes  called  Taki-Taki,  is  native  language  of  Creoles 
  and  much  of  the  younger  population  and  is  lingua  franca  among  others), 
  Hindustani  (a  dialect  of  Hindi),  Javanese 
 
  Literacy:  age  15  and  over  can  read  and  write  (1990  est.) 
  total  population:  95% 
  male:  95% 
  female:  95% 
 
  Labor  force:  NA 
 
  Suriname:Government 
 
  Names: 
  conventional  long  form:  Republic  of  Suriname 
  conventional  short  form:  Suriname 
  local  long  form:  Republiek  Suriname 
  local  short  form:  Suriname 
  former:  Netherlands  Guiana,  Dutch  Guiana 
 
  Digraph:  NS 
 
  Type:  republic 
 
  Capital:  Paramaribo 
 
  Administrative  divisions:  10  districts  (distrikten,  singular  - 
  distrikt);  Brokopondo  Commewijne  Coronie,  Marowijne  Nickerie  Para, 
  Paramaribo,  Saramacca  Sipaliwini  Wanica 
 
  Independence:  25  November  1975  (from  Netherlands) 
 
  National  holiday:  Independence  Day  25  November  (1975) 
 
  Constitution:  ratified  30  September  1987 
 
  Legal  system:  NA 
 
  Suffrage:  18  years  of  age;  universal 
 
  Executive  branch: 
  chief  of  state  and  head  of  government:  President  Ronald  R.  VENETIAAN 
  (since  16  September  1991);  Prime  Minister  Jules  R.  AJODHIA  (since  16 
  September  1991);  election  last  held  6  September  1991  (next  to  be  held 
  NA  May  1996);  results  -  elected  by  the  National  Assembly  -  Ronald 
  VENETIAAN  NF  80%  (645  votes),  Jules  WIJDENBOSCH  (NDP)  14%  (115 
  votes),  Hans  PRADE  (DA  '91)  6%  (49  votes) 
  cabinet:  Cabinet  of  Ministers;  appointed  by  the  president  from  members 
  of  the  National  Assembly 
  note:  Commander  in  Chief  of  the  National  Army  maintains  significant 
  power 
 
  Legislative  branch:  unicameral 
  National  Assembly  (Assemblee  Nationale):  elections  last  held  25  May 
  1991  (next  to  be  held  NA  May  1996);  results  -  percent  of  vote  by  party 
  NA  seats  -  (51  total)  NF  30,  NDP  10,  DA  '91  9,  independents  2 
 
  Judicial  branch:  Supreme  Court 
 
  Political  parties  and  leaders:  The  New  Front  (NF),  a  coalition  of  four 
  parties  (NPS,  VHP,  KTPI,  SPA),  leader  Ronald  R.  VENETIAAN;  Progressive 
  Reform  Party  (VHP),  Jaggernath  LACHMON  National  Party  of  Suriname 
  (NPS),  Ronald  VENETIAAN;  Party  of  National  Unity  and  Solidarity 
  (KTPI),  Willy  SOEMITA;  Suriname  Labor  Party  (SPA),  Fred  DERBY; 
  Democratic  Alternative  '91  (DA  '91),  Winston  JESSURUN,  a  coalition  of 
  four  parties  (AF,  HPP,  Pendawa  Lima,  BEP)  formed  in  January  1991; 
  Alternative  Forum  (AF),  Gerard  BRUNINGS,  Winston  JESSURUN;  Reformed 
  Progressive  Party  (HPP),  Panalal  PARMESSAR  Party  for  Brotherhood  and 
  Unity  in  Politics  (BEP),  Caprino  ALLENDY  Pendawa  Lima,  Marsha  JAMIN; 
  National  Democratic  Party  (NDP),  Desire  BOUTERSE  Progressive  Workers' 
  and  Farm  Laborers'  Union  (PALU),  Ir  Iwan  KROLIS  chairman; 
 
  Other  political  or  pressure  groups:  Surinamese  Liberation  Army  (SLA), 
  Ronnie  BRUNSWIJK,  Johan  Castro"  WALLY;  Union  for  Liberation  and 
  Democracy,  Kofi  AFONGPONG  Mandela  Bushnegro  Liberation  Movement, 
  Leendert  ADAMS;  Tucayana  Amazonica,  Alex  JUBITANA  Thomas  SABAJO 
 
  Member  of:  ACP,  CARICOM  ECLAC  FAO,  G-77,  GATT,  IADB,  IBRD,  ICAO, 
  ICFTU  ICRM,  IFAD,  IFRCS  (associate),  ILO,  IMF,  IMO,  INTELSAT 
  (nonsignatory  user),  INTERPOL,  IOC,  ITU,  LAES,  NAM,  OAS,  OPANAL  PCA, 
  UN  UNCTAD  UNESCO,  UNIDO  UPU,  WCL,  WHO  WIPO,  WMO 
 
  Diplomatic  representation  in  US: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Willem  A.  UDENHOUT 
  chancery:  Suite  108,  4301  Connecticut  Avenue  NW  Washington,  DC  20008 
  telephone:  [1]  (202)  244-7488,  7490  through  7492 
  FAX:  [1]  (202)  244-5878 
  consulate(s)  general:  Miami 
 
  US  diplomatic  representation: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Roger  R.  GAMBLE 
  embassy:  Dr  Sophie  Redmondstraat  129,  Paramaribo 
  mailing  address:  P.  O.  Box  1821,  Paramaribo 
  telephone:  [597]  472900,  477881,  476459 
  FAX:  [597]  410025 
 
  Flag:  five  horizontal  bands  of  green  (top,  double  width),  white,  red 
  (quadruple  width),  white,  and  green  (double  width);  there  is  a  large 
  yellow  five-pointed  star  centered  in  the  red  band 
 
  Economy 
 
  Overview:  The  economy  is  dominated  by  the  bauxite  industry,  which 
  accounts  for  15%  of  GDP  and  about  70%  of  export  earnings.  Paramaribo 
  has  failed  to  initiate  the  economic  reforms  necessary  to  stabilize  the 
  economy  or  win  renewed  Dutch  aid  disbursements.  The  government 
  continues  to  finance  deficit  spending  with  monetary  emissions.  As  a 
  result,  high  inflation,  high  unemployment,  widespread  black  market 
  activity,  and  hard  currency  shortfalls  continue  to  mark  the  economy. 
 
  National  product:  GDP  -  purchasing  power  parity  -  $1.2  billion  (1994 
  est.) 
 
  National  product  real  growth  rate:  -0.8%  (1994  est.) 
 
  National  product  per  capita:  $2,800  (1994  est.) 
 
  Inflation  rate  (consumer  prices):  225%  (1994  est.) 
 
  Unemployment  rate:  NA 
 
  Budget: 
  revenues:  $300  million 
  expenditures:  $700  million,  including  capital  expenditures  of  $70 
  million  (1994  est.) 
 
  Exports:  $443.3  million  (f.o.b.,  1993  est.) 
  commodities:  alumina,  aluminum,  shrimp  and  fish,  rice,  bananas 
  partners:  Norway  33%,  Netherlands  26%,  US  13%,  Japan  6%,  Brazil  6%,  UK 
  3%  (1992) 
 
  Imports:  $520.5  million  (f.o.b.,  1993  est.) 
  commodities:  capital  equipment,  petroleum,  foodstuffs,  cotton, 
  consumer  goods 
  partners:  US  42%,  Netherlands  22%,  Trinidad  and  Tobago  10%,  Brazil  5% 
  (1992) 
 
  External  debt:  $180  million  (March  1993  est.) 
 
  Industrial  production:  growth  rate  3.5%  (1992  est.);  accounts  for  18% 
  of  GDP 
 
  Electricity: 
  capacity:  420,000  kW 
  production:  1.4  billion  kWh 
  consumption  per  capita:  3,123  kWh  (1993) 
 
  Industries:  bauxite  mining,  alumina  and  aluminum  production, 
  lumbering,  food  processing,  fishing 
 
  Agriculture:  accounts  for  15%  of  GDP  and  25%  of  export  earnings;  paddy 
  rice  planted  on  85%  of  arable  land  and  represents  60%  of  total  farm 
  output;  other  products  -  bananas,  palm  kernels,  coconuts,  plantains, 
  peanuts,  beef,  chicken;  shrimp  and  forestry  products  of  increasing 
  importance;  self-sufficient  in  most  foods 
 
  Illicit  drugs:  transshipment  point  for  South  American  drugs  destined 
  for  the  US  and  Europe 
 
  Economic  aid: 
  recipient:  US  commitments,  including  Ex-Im  (FY70-83),  $2.5  billion; 
  Western  (non-US)  countries,  ODA  and  OOF  bilateral  commitments 
  (1970-89),  $1.5  billion 
 
  Currency:  1  Surinamese  guilder,  gulden,  or  florin  (Sf.)  =  100  cents 
 
  Exchange  rates:  Surinamese  guilders,  gulden,  or  florins  (Sf.)  per  US$1 
  -  1.7850  (fixed  rate);  parallel  rate  510  (December  1994),  109  (January 
  1994) 
 
  Fiscal  year:  calendar  year 
 
  Suriname:Transportation 
 
  Railroads: 
  total:  166  km  (single  track) 
  standard  gauge:  80  km  1.435-m  gauge 
  narrow  gauge:  86  km  1.000-m  gauge 
 
  Highways: 
  total:  8,800  km 
  paved:  500  km 
  unpaved:  bauxite,  gravel,  crushed  stone  5,400  km  improved  and 
  unimproved  earth  2,900  km 
 
  Inland  waterways:  1,200  km  most  important  means  of  transport; 
  oceangoing  vessels  with  drafts  ranging  up  to  7  m  can  navigate  many  of 
  the  principal  waterways 
 
  Ports:  Albina,  Moengo,  Nieuw  Nickerie  Paramaribo,  Paranam,  Wageningen 
 
  Merchant  marine: 
  total:  2  ships  (1,000  GRT  or  over)  totaling  2,421  GRT/2,990  DWT 
  ships  by  type:  cargo  1,  container  1 
 
  Airports: 
  total:  46 
  with  paved  runways  over  3,047  m:  1 
  with  paved  runways  under  914  m:  38 
  with  unpaved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  7 
 
  Suriname:Communications 
 
  Telephone  system:  27,500  telephones;  international  facilities  good 
  local:  NA 
  intercity:  microwave  radio  relay  network 
  international:  2  INTELSAT  (Atlantic  Ocean)  earth  stations 
 
  Radio: 
  broadcast  stations:  AM  5,  FM  14,  shortwave  1 
  radios:  NA 
 
  Television: 
  broadcast  stations:  6 
  televisions:  NA 
 
  Suriname:Defense  Forces 
 
  Branches:  National  Army  (includes  small  Navy  and  Air  Force  elements), 
  Civil  Police 
 
  Manpower  availability:  males  age  15-49  116,456;  males  fit  for  military 
  service  69,011  (1995  est.) 
 
  Defense  expenditures:  $NA,  NA%  of  GDP 
 
 
 




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