JaCKo'S HOmePaGE

Suriname

Suriname, also Surinam, formerly Dutch Guiana, country in northeastern South America, west of French Guiana, north of Brazil, and east of Guyana. The total area is 163,265 sq km (63,037 sq mi). The capital and largest city is Paramaribo.

Suriname consists of a swampy coastal plain, a central plateau, and densely forested mountains. The climate is tropical. Rainfall, heaviest along the coast, often causes floods. Suriname's chief resources are the aluminum ore bauxite, iron ore, copper, nickel, and extensive forests.

The total population of Suriname is 463,000 (1995 estimate). The main ethnic groups are Asian Indians (Hindus) and Creoles of mixed African and Native American descent. The official language is Dutch; most people also speak Sranang Tongo (Taki-Taki), a local language. The main religions are Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism.

The mining and processing of bauxite are the basic economic activities. Rice is the chief crop. The unit of currency is the Suriname guilder (1.78 guilders equal U.S.$1; 1994).

Following a coup in 1980, the constitution was suspended, parliament was dissolved, and a council dominated by the military ruled by decree. A new constitution, adopted in 1987, established a 51-member National Assembly with the power to select the president for a 5-year term.

When the Dutch arrived in 1581, the Suriname area was inhabited by Arawak, Carib, and Warrau peoples. Briefly colonized by England in the early 17th century, the area was traded in 1667 to the Dutch for what became New York City.

In 1975 the Dutch granted Suriname independence; however, about 40,000 people chose to retain Dutch citizenship and emigrated to the Netherlands. The first president, Henck Arron, was overthrown in 1980 by Lieutenant Colonel Désiré Bouterse, who ruled as a dictator.

Guerrilla war broke out in 1986, and a civilian government was restored in the following year. In 1988 Ramsewak Shankar was elected president by the new National Assembly. Bouterse ousted the Shankar government in 1990. New elections were held in 1991; Ronald Venetiaan was chosen as president.New elections will be held again at the 25 th of may this year to remove the president who was chosen in the elections of 1996, Jules Wijdenbosch.

But suriname is a very beautiful country especially the untouched interior.There will be some nice pictures in this section also taken in the interior.

Here is a link to a touroperator in Suriname