|
2 definitions found
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
Suriname
n : a republic in northeastern South America on the Atlantic;
achieved independence from the Netherlands in 1975 [syn:
{Republic of Suriname}, {Surinam}, {Dutch Guiana}, {Netherlands
Guiana}]
From CIA World Factbook 2002 [world02]:
Suriname
Introduction Suriname
---------------------
Background: Independence from the Netherlands
was granted in 1975. Five years
later the civilian government was
replaced by a military regime that
soon declared a socialist republic.
It continued to rule through a
succession of nominally civilian
administrations until 1987, when
international pressure finally
forced a democratic election. In
1989, the military overthrew the
civilian government, but a
democratically-elected government
returned to power in 1991.
Geography Suriname
------------------
Location: Northern South America, bordering
the North Atlantic Ocean, between
French Guiana and Guyana
Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 56 00 W
Map references: South America
Area: total: 163,270 sq km
land: 161,470 sq km
water: 1,800 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries: total: 1,707 km
border countries: Brazil 597 km,
French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km
Coastline: 386 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal
plain with swamps
Elevation extremes: lowest point: unnamed location in
the coastal plain -2 m
highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin,
shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small
amounts of nickel, copper, platinum,
iron ore
Land use: arable land: 0.37%
permanent crops: 0.06%
note: there are 95,000 hectares of
arable land, 7,000 hectares of
permanent crops, and 15,000 hectares
of permanent pastures (1998 est.)
other: 99.57%
Irrigated land: 490 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: deforestation as timber is cut for
export; pollution of inland
waterways by small-scale mining
activities
Environment - international party to: Biodiversity, Climate
agreements: Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of
the selected agreements
Geography - note: smallest independent country on
South American continent; mostly
tropical rain forest; great
diversity of flora and fauna that,
for the most part, is increasingly
threatened by new development;
relatively small population, mostly
along the coast
People Suriname
---------------
Population: 436,494 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 31.1% (male 69,642;
female 66,262)
15-64 years: 63.1% (male 140,745;
female 134,494)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male
11,480; female 13,871) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.55% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 19.97 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 5.67 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: -8.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/
female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/
female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 23.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.9 years
female: 74.7 years (2002 est.)
male: 69.23 years
Total fertility rate: 2.44 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.26% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ 3,000 (1999 est.)
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 210 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Surinamer(s)
adjective: Surinamese
Ethnic groups: Hindustani (also known locally as
"East Indians"; their ancestors
emigrated from northern India in the
latter part of the 19th century)
37%, Creole (mixed white and black)
31%, Javanese 15%, "Maroons" (their
African ancestors were brought to
the country in the 17th and 18th
centuries as slaves and escaped to
the interior) 10%, Amerindian 2%,
Chinese 2%, white 1%, other 2%
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: definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 93%
male: 95%
female: 91% (1995 est.)
Government Suriname
-------------------
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of
Suriname
conventional short form: Suriname
local short form: Suriname
former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch
Guiana
local long form: Republiek Suriname
Government type: constitutional democracy
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: based on Dutch legal system
incorporating French penal theory
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Runaldo
Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August
2000); Vice President Jules
Rattankoemar AJODHIA (since 12
August 2000); note - the president
is both the chief of state and head
of government
head of government: President
Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12
August 2000); Vice President Jules
Rattankoemar AJODHIA (since 12
August 2000); note - the president
is both the chief of state and head
of government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
appointed by the president from
among the members of the National
Assembly
elections: president and vice
president elected by the National
Assembly or, if no presidential or
vice presidential candidate receives
a constitutional majority in the
National Assembly after two votes,
by the larger People's Assembly (869
representatives from the national,
local, and regional councils), for
five-year terms; election last held
6 May 2000 (next to be held NA May
2005)
election results: Runaldo Ronald
VENETIAAN elected president by the
National Assembly; percent of
legislative vote - Runaldo Ronald
VENETIAAN 72.5%; Rashied DOEKHIE
(NDP) 19.6%; total votes cast -
Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (New Front)
37 votes, Rashied DOEKHIE (NDP) 10
votes
note: widespread demonstrations
during the summer of 1999 led to the
call for elections a year early
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or
Nationale Assemblee (51 seats;
members are elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - NF 33,
MC 10, DNP 2000 3, DA '91 2, PVF 2,
PALU 1
note: widespread demonstrations
during the summer of 1999 led to the
call for elections a year early
elections: last held 5 May 2000
(next to be held NA May 2005)
Judicial branch: Court of Justice (justices are
nominated for life)
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Alternative '91 or DA '91
(a coalition of the Alternative
Forum or AF and Party for
Brotherhood and Unity in Politics or
BEP, formed in January 1991) [S.
RAMKHELAWAN]; Democratic National
Platform 2000 or DNP 2000 (coalition
of two parties, Democratic Party and
Democrats of the 21st Century)
[Jules WIJDENBOSCH]; Independent
Progressive Democratic Alternative
or OPDA [Joginder RAMKHILAWAN];
Millennium Combination or MC (a
coalition of three parties,
Democratic Alternative, Party for
National Unity and Solidarity, and
National Democratic Party) [leader
NA]; National Democratic Party or
NDP [Desire BOUTERSE]; Naya Kadam or
NK [leader NA]; Party for Renewal
and Democracy or BVD [Tjan
GOBARDHAN]; Party of National Unity
and Solidarity or KTPI [Willy
SOEMITA]; Pertjaja Luhur [Paul
SOMOHARDJO]; Progressive Workers'
and Farm Laborers' Union or PALU [Ir
Iwan KROLIS]; The New Front or NF (a
coalition of four parties Suriname
National Party or NPS, Progressive
Reform Party or VHP, Suriname Labor
Party or SPA, and Pertjaja Luhur)
[Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN]; The
Progressive Development Alliance (a
combination of three parties,
Renewed Progressive Party or HPP,
Party of the Federation of Land
Workers or PVF, and Suriname
Progressive People's Party or PSV)
[Harry KISOENSINGH]
Political pressure groups and General Liberation and Development
leaders: Party or ABOP [Ronnie BRUNSWIJK];
Mandela Bushnegro Liberation
Movement [Leendert ADAMS]; Tucayana
Amazonica [Alex JUBITANA, Thomas
SABAJO]; Union for Liberation and
Democracy [Kofi AFONGPONG]
International organization ACP, Caricom, ECLAC, FAO, G-77,
participation: IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDB,
IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS,
OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Henry
Lothar ILLES
FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878
consulate(s) general: Miami
telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488
chancery: Suite 460, 4301
Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel
US: A. JOHNSON
embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat
129, Paramaribo
mailing address: Department of
State, 3390 Paramaribo Place,
Washington, DC, 20521-3390
telephone: [597] 472900
FAX: [597] 420800
Flag description: 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 Suriname
----------------
Economy - overview: The economy is dominated by the
bauxite industry, which accounts for
more than 15% of GDP and 70% of
export earnings. Suriname's economic
prospects for the medium term will
depend on renewed commitment to
responsible monetary and fiscal
policies and to the introduction of
structural reforms to liberalize
markets and promote competition. The
government of Ronald VENETIAAN has
begun an austerity program, raised
taxes, and attempted to control
spending. The Dutch Government has
restarted the aid flow, which will
allow Suriname to access
international development financing.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.5
billion (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -5.5% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,500
(2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13%
industry: 22%
services: 65% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 59% (2000)
Labor force: 100,000
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%,
services NA%
Unemployment rate: 20% (1997)
Budget: revenues: $393 million
expenditures: $403 million,
including capital expenditures of
$34 million (1997 est.)
Industries: bauxite and gold mining, alumina
production, oil, lumbering, food
processing, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 6.5% (1994 est.)
Electricity - production: 1.407 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 35.82%
hydro: 64.18%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 1.309 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels,
coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef,
chickens; forest products; shrimp
Exports: $399 million (f.o.b., 2000)
Exports - commodities: alumina, crude oil, lumber, shrimp
and fish, rice, bananas
Exports - partners: US 23%, Norway 19%, Netherlands 11%,
France, Japan, UK (1999)
Imports: $525 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: capital equipment, petroleum,
foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods
Imports - partners: US 35%, Netherlands 15%, Trinidad
and Tobago 12%, Japan, UK, Brazil
(1999)
Debt - external: $512 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: Netherlands provided $37 million for
project and program assistance,
European Development Fund $4
million, Belgium $2 million (1998)
Currency: Surinamese guilder (SRG)
Currency code: SRG
Exchange rates: Surinamese guilders per US dollar -
2,178.50 (2001), 2,178.50 (2000),
987.50 (1999), 401.00 (1998), 401.00
(1997); note - yearend rates
note: beginning in July 1994, the
central bank midpoint exchange rate
was unified and became market
determined; during 1998, the
exchange rate splintered into four
distinct rates; in January 1999 the
government floated the guilder, but
subsequently fixed it when the
black-market rate plunged; the
government currently allows trading
within a band of SRG 500 around the
official rate
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Suriname
-----------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 64,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 4,090 (1997)
Telephone system: general assessment: international
facilities are good
domestic: microwave radio relay
network
international: satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 13, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 300,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (plus seven repeaters) (2000)
Televisions: 63,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .sr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2000)
Internet users: 11,700 (2001)
Transportation Suriname
-----------------------
Railways: total: 166 km (single-track)
standard gauge: 80 km 1.435-m gauge
note: Suriname railroads are not in
operation (2001)
narrow gauge: 86 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways: total: 4,530 km
paved: 1,178 km
unpaved: 3,352 km (1996)
Waterways: 1,200 km
note: most important means of
transport; oceangoing vessels with
drafts ranging up to 7 m can
navigate many of the principal
waterways
Ports and harbors: Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie,
Paramaribo, Paranam, Wageningen
Merchant marine: total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 3,432 GRT/4,525 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, container 1,
petroleum tanker 1 (2002 est.)
Airports: 46 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 41
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 35 (2001)
Military Suriname
-----------------
Military branches: National Army (including small Navy
and Air Force elements), Civil
Police
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 123,072 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 72,059 (2002 est.)
service:
Military expenditures - dollar $NA
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of 1.6% (FY97 est.)
GDP:
Transnational Issues Suriname
-----------------------------
Disputes - international: area disputed by French Guiana
between Riviere Litani and Riviere
Marouini (both headwaters of the
Lawa); area disputed by Guyana
between New (Upper Courantyne) and
Courantyne/Koetari [Kutari] rivers
(all headwaters of the Courantyne);
territorial sea boundary with Guyana
is in dispute
Illicit drugs: growing transshipment point for
South American drugs destined for
Europe and Brazil; transshipment
point for arms-for-drugs dealing
Powered by Blog Dictionary [BlogDict]
Kindly supported by
Vaffle Invitation Code
Get a Freelance Job - Outsource Your Projects | Threadless Coupon
All rights
reserved. (2008-2024)