Suriname
Formerly known as Dutch Guiana, Suriname is one of the smallest countries in South America and enjoys a relatively high standard of living for the region. However, like other countries in the region, it faces serious political and economic challenges.
Surinam is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the Americas, with the majority of its people being the descendants of African slaves and Indian and Indonesian indentured servants brought over by the Dutch to work as agricultural laborers. There is little assimilation between the different ethnic groups outside of the economic sphere, leading to ethnically-based politics and blocking consensus-building over national issues.
Since independence from the Netherlands was granted in 1975, Surinam has had to contend with a series of coups and a civil war. Five years after independence, 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 brought about a democratic election.
Following a dispute with the elected President, Ransewak Shankar, Lieutenant-Colonel Bouterse launched another coup in 1990. The National Assembly rapidly approved a new government, dominated by the National Democratic Party (NDP) which, despite having won just two seats at the 1987 election, had the strong backing of the army. The elderly Johan Kraag was installed as president although in practice the vice-president and premier Jules Wijdenbosch dominated the government. Subsequent elections saw political deadlock, with no single party able to secure the two-thirds majority needed to elect its presidential candidate.
Ronald Venetiaan is currently serving his third term as President. His first term, from 1991-96, saw the implementation of an austerity programme which, though unpopular, left the country with a stable currency and a budget surplus. In 2000 Ronald Venetiaan he replaced Jules Wijdenbosch, whose tenure was characterized by high public spending. Venetiaan was re-elected in August 2005 by members of a regional assembly, ending months of political deadlock. Neither Venetiaan nor his rival received the necessary majority to become president in two rounds of voting in parliament. It was left to the regional body to decide the outcome.
Venetiaan inherited a devalued currency, high inflation, a collapsing health system and a bloated bureaucracy. He introduced emergency measures to contain inflation and stabilise the exchange rate. The government cut public spending and restructured the banana industry with the help of international loans.
Although Surinam is a potential destination for eco-tourists thanks to its rainforests and abundant wildlife, tourism is undeveloped, largely because of the inaccessibility of the interior and the lack of infrastructure. Thus, Surinam is heavily dependent on the mining and processing of its declining reserves of bauxite and is vulnerable to falls in commodity prices.
Surinam has a long-running dispute with its neighbour, Guyana, over the ownership of a potentially oil-rich offshore area. A UN tribunal has been set up to try to settle the issue.
There is insufficient police authority outside of Paramaribo and the other larger urban areas in the country. Banditry and lawlessness are on the rise in the cities of Albina and Moengo and along the East-West Highway between Paramaribo and Albina. In addition to these places, travelers proceeding to the interior should be aware that they may encounter difficulties due to a lack of government authority.
Due to the above-mentioned border dispute, tensions occasionally rise along the land and maritime borders between Suriname and Guyana.
Demonstrations are rare, but travelers should take common-sense precautions and avoid large gatherings.
