Suriname
GANG INFORMATION
PROFILE
OFFICIAL NAME:
Republic of Suriname
Geography
Area: 163,194 sq. km. (63,037 sq. mi.); slightly larger than Georgia.
Cities: Capital--Paramaribo (pop. 243,556). Other cities--Nieuw
Nickerie, Moengo.
Terrain: Varies from coastal swamps to savanna to hills.
Climate: Tropical.
People
Nationality: Noun--Surinamer(s). Adjective--Surinamese.
Population (2004 census): 492,829.
Annual growth rate (2004): 1.30%.
Ethnic groups: Hindustani (East Indian) 27%, Creole 18%, Javanese
15%, Maroon 15%, Mixed 12.5%, Amerindians 3.7%, Chinese 1.8% (percentages
from 2004 census).
Religions: Hindu, Muslim, Roman Catholic, Dutch Reformed, Moravian,
several other Christian denominations, Jewish, Baha'i.
Languages: Dutch (official), English, Sranan Tongo (Creole language),
Hindustani, Javanese.
Education: Years compulsory--ages 6-12. Literacy--90%. Health:
Infant mortality rate (2000)--27.1/1,000. Life expectancy (2003)--71
yrs.
Work force (100,000): Government--35%; private sector--41%; parastatal
companies--10%; unemployed--14%.
Government
Type: Constitutional democracy.
Constitution: September 30, 1987.
Independence: November 25, 1975.
Branches: Executive--president, vice president, Council of Ministers.
Legislative--elected 51-member National Assembly made up of representatives
of political parties. Judicial--Court of Justice.
Administrative subdivisions: 10 districts.
Political parties: Governing Coalition--National Party of Suriname
(NPS), Progressive Reform Party (VHP), Pertjaja Luhur, Suriname
Workers Party (SPA). Other parties in the National Assembly--Democratic
Alternative '91 (DA 91), Democratic National Platform (DNP) 2000,
Political Wing of the FAL (Federation of Agricultural Workers),
Progressive Workers and Farmers Union (PALU), National Democratic
Party (NDP), Democratic Party (DP), Javanese Indonesian Peasants
Party (KTPI), Independent Progressive Democratic Alternative (OPDA).
Suffrage: Universal at 18.
Economy
GDP (2004 est.): U.S. $1.885 million.
Annual growth rate real GDP (2004 est.): 4.2%.
Per capita GDP (2004 est.): $4,300.
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, fish, shrimp, gold, lumber.
Trade (2001): Exports--$479 million (U.S.$): alumina, wood and
wood products, rice, bananas, fish, and shrimp. Major markets--U.S.
(about 25%), Norway, Netherlands, and other European countries.
Imports--$501 million: capital equipment, petroleum, iron and
steel products, agricultural products, and consumer goods. Major
suppliers--U.S. (about 40%), Netherlands, EU (about 30%), and
Caribbean (CARICOM) countries (20%).
PEOPLE
Most Surinamers live in the narrow, northern coastal plain. The
population is one of the most ethnically varied in the world.
Each ethnic group preserves its own culture and many institutions,
including political parties, tend to follow ethnic lines. Informal
relationships vary: the upper classes of all ethnic backgrounds
mix freely; outside of the elite, social relations tend to remain
within ethnic groupings. All groups may be found in the schools
and workplace.
HISTORY
Arawak and Carib tribes lived in the region before Columbus sighted
the coast in 1498. Spain officially claimed the area in 1593,
but Portuguese and Spanish explorers of the time gave the area
little attention. Dutch settlement began in 1616 at the mouths
of several rivers between present-day Georgetown, Guyana, and
Cayenne, French Guiana.
Suriname became a Dutch colony in 1667. The new colony, Dutch
Guiana, did not thrive. Historians cite several reasons for this,
including Holland's preoccupation with its more extensive (and
profitable) East Indian territories, violent conflict between
whites and native tribes, and frequent uprisings by the imported
slave population, which was often treated with extraordinary cruelty.
Barely, if at all, assimilated into European society, many of
the slaves fled to the interior, where they maintained a West
African culture and established the five major Bush Negro tribes
in existence today--the Djuka, Saramaccaner, Matuwari, Paramaccaner,
and Quinti.
Plantations steadily declined in importance as labor costs rose.
Rice, bananas, and citrus fruits replaced the traditional crops
of sugar, coffee, and cocoa. Exports of gold rose beginning in
1900. The Dutch Government gave little financial support to the
colony. Suriname's economy was transformed in the years following
World War I, when an American firm (ALCOA) began exploiting bauxite
deposits in East Suriname. Bauxite processing and then alumina
production began in 1916. During World War II, more than 75% of
U.S. bauxite imports came from Suriname.
In 1951, Suriname began to acquire a growing measure of autonomy
from the Netherlands. Suriname became an autonomous part of the
Kingdom of the Netherlands on December 15, 1954, and gained independence
on November 25, 1975.
Most of Suriname's political parties took shape during the autonomy
period and were overwhelmingly based on ethnicity. For example,
the National Party of Suriname found its support among the Creoles,
the Progressive Reform Party members came from the Hindustani
population, and the Indonesian Peasant's Party was Javanese. Other
smaller parties found support by appealing to voters on an ideological
or pro-independence platform; the Partij Nationalistische Republiek
(PNR) was among the most important. Its members pressed most strongly
for independence and for the introduction of leftist political
and economic measures. Many former PNR members would go on to
play a key role following the coup of February 1980.
Suriname was a working parliamentary democracy in the years immediately
following independence. Henk Arron became the first Prime Minister
and was re-elected in 1977. On February 25, 1980, 16 noncommissioned
officers overthrew the elected government. The military-dominated
government then suspended the constitution, dissolved the legislature,
and formed a regime that ruled by decree. Although a civilian
filled the post of president, a military man, Desi Bouterse, actually
ruled the country.
Throughout 1982, pressure grew for a return to civilian rule.
In response, the military ordered drastic action. Early in December
1982, military authorities arrested and killed 15 prominent opposition
leaders, including journalists, lawyers, and trade union leaders.
Following the murders, the United States and the Netherlands
suspended economic and military cooperation with the Bouterse
regime, which increasingly began to follow an erratic but generally
leftist-oriented political course. Economic decline rapidly set
in after the suspension of economic aid from the Netherlands.
The regime restricted the press and limited the rights of its
citizens.
Continuing economic decline brought pressure for change. During
the 1984-87 period, the Bouterse regime tried to end the crisis
by appointing a succession of nominally civilian-led cabinets.
Many figures in the government came from the traditional political
parties that had been shoved aside during the coup. The military
eventually agreed to free elections in 1987, a new constitution,
and a civilian government.
Another pressure for change had erupted in July 1986, when a
Bush Negro (aka Maroon) insurgency, led by former soldier Ronnie
Brunswijk, began attacking economic targets in the country's interior.
In response, the army ravaged villages and killed suspected Brunswijk
supporters. Thousands of Bush Negroes fled to nearby French Guiana.
In an effort to end the bloodshed, the Surinamese Government negotiated
a peace treaty, called the Kourou Accord, with Brunswijk in 1989.
However, Bouterse and other military leaders blocked the accord's
implementation.
On December 24, 1990, military officers forced the resignations
of the civilian President and Vice President elected in 1987.
Military-selected replacements were hastily approved by the National
Assembly on December 29. Faced with mounting pressure from the
U.S., other nations, the Organization of American States (OAS),
and other international organizations, the government held new
elections on May 25, 1991. The New Front (NF) Coalition, comprised
of the Creole National Party of Suriname (NPS), the Hindustani
Progressive Reform Party (VHP), the Javanese Indonesian Peasant's
Party (KTPI), and the Surinamese Workers Party (SPA) were able
to win a majority in the National Assembly. On September 6, 1991,
NPS candidate Ronald Venetiaan was elected President, and the
VHP's Jules Ajodhia became Vice President of the New Front Coalition
government.
The Venetiaan government was able to effect a settlement to Suriname's
domestic insurgency through the August 1992 Peace Accord with
Bush Negro and Amerindian rebels. In April 1993, Desi Bouterse
left his position as commander of the armed forces and was replaced
by Arthy Gorre, a military officer committed to bringing the armed
forces under civilian government control. Economic reforms instituted
by the Venetiaan government eventually helped curb inflation,
unify the official and unofficial exchange rates, and improve
the government's economic situation by re-establishing relations
with the Dutch, thereby opening the way for a major influx of
Dutch financial assistance. Despite these successes, the governing
coalition lost support and failed to retain control of the government
in the subsequent round of national elections. The rival National
Democratic Party (NDP), founded in the early 1990s by Desi Bouterse,
benefited from the New Front government's loss of popularity.
The NDP won more National Assembly seats (16 of 51) than any other
party in the May 1996 national elections and in September 1996,
joined with the KTPI, dissenters from the VHP, and several smaller
parties to elect NDP vice chairman Jules Wijdenbosch president
of a NDP-led coalition government. Divisions and subsequent reshufflings
of coalition members in the fall of 1997 and early 1998 weakened
the coalition's mandate and slowed legislative action.
In May 1999, after mass demonstrations protesting poor economic
conditions, the government was forced to call early elections.
The elections in May 2000 returned Ronald Venetiaan and his coalition
to the presidency. The NF ran its campaign on a platform to fix
the faltering Surinamese economy. But while the Venetiaan administration
has made progress in stabilizing the economy, tensions within
the coalition and the impatience of the populace have impeded
progress.
Relations with the Dutch have been complicated by Dutch prosecution
of Desi Bouterse in absentia on drug charges, and legal maneuvering
by Dutch prosecutors trying to bring charges relating to the December
1982 murders. (A Dutch appellate court in 2000 found Bouterse
guilty of one drug-related charge; the decision was upheld on
appeal.) A key component of the relationship is the 600 million
Dutch guilders (Nf.) remaining from Nf. 2.5 billion promised for
development at independence. The disposition of the funds was
a matter of much discussion during recent Dutch cabinet-level
visits intended to lay the groundwork to restart the flow of guilders,
which the Dutch stanched in response to irresponsible spending
by the Wijdenbosch administration. The parties are at odds over
the control of the funds, and needed aid has not flowed to the
country.
In August 2001, the Dutch provided a triple-A state guarantee
to enable the Surinamese Government to receive a 10-year loan
from the Dutch Development Bank (NTO) for the amount of Euro 137.7
million (U.S. $125 million). The loan has an interest rate of
5.18% per year and was used to consolidate floating government
debts. U.S. $32 million of the loan was used to pay off foreign
loans, which had been taken under unfavorable conditions by the
Wijdenbosch government. The remaining 93 million of the loan was
used to pay off debts at the Central Bank of Suriname. This enabled
the Central Bank to strengthen its foreign currency position according
to the IMF standards to the equivalency of 3 months of imports.
In the national election held on May 25, 2005, the ruling NF
coalition suffered a significant setback due to widespread dissatisfaction
with the state of the economy and a public perception that the
NF had produce few tangible gains for the country. The NF won
just 23 seats, falling short of a simple majority in the National
Assembly, and immediately entered into negotiations with the Maroon-based
“A” Combination and the A-1 Coalition to form a working
majority. Desi Bouterse’s NDP better than doubled its representation
in the National Assembly, winning 15 seats. Bouterse, who had
placed himself as the NDP’s declared presidential candidate,
withdrew from the race days before the National Assembly convened
to vote for the next president and tapped his running mate, Rabin
Parmessar, to run as the NDP’s candidate. In the National
Assembly, the NF challenged Parmessar’s Surinamese citizenship,
displaying copies of a Dutch passport issued to Parmessar in 2004.
After two votes, no candidate received the required two-thirds
majority, pushing the final decision in August 2005 to a special
session of the United People’s Assembly, where President
Venetiaan was reelected with a significant majority of votes from
the local, district, and national assembly members gathered. His
running mate, Ramdien Sardjoe, was elected as vice president.
GOVERNMENT
The Republic of Suriname is a constitutional democracy based on
the 1987 constitution. The legislative branch of government consists
of a 51-member unicameral National Assembly, simultaneously and
popularly elected for a 5-year term.
The executive branch is headed by the president, who is elected
by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly or, failing
that, by a majority of the People's Assembly for a 5-year term.
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. A vice president, normally elected at the same
time as the president, needs a simple majority in the National
Assembly or People's Assembly to be elected for a 5-year term.
As head of government, the president appoints a cabinet of ministers.
There is no constitutional provision for removal or replacement
of the president unless he resigns.
A 15-member State Advisory Council advises the president in the
conduct of policy. Eleven of the 15 council seats are allotted
by proportional representation of all political parties represented
in the National Assembly. The president chairs the council, and
two seats are allotted to representatives of labor, and two are
allotted to employers' organizations.
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.
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 U.S. State but
serves at the president's pleasure.
Principal Government Officials
President--Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan
Vice President--Ramdien Sardjoe
Foreign Minister--Lygia Kraag-Keteldijk
Ambassador to U.S.--Henry Lothar Illes
Ambassador to UN--Ewald Limon
Ambassador to OAS--Henry Lothar Illes
Suriname maintains an embassy in the United States at 4301 Connecticut
Ave, NW, Suite 460, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-244-7488; fax
202-244-5878). There also is a Suriname consulate general at 7235
NW 19th St., Suite A, Miami, FL 33136 (tel. 305-593-2163).
NATIONAL SECURITY
Surinamese armed forces consist of the national army under the
control of the Minister of Defense and a smaller civil police
force, which is responsible to the Minister of Justice and Police.
The national armed forces comprise some 2,200 personnel, the majority
of whom are deployed as light infantry security forces. A small
air force, navy, and military police also exist. The Netherlands
has provided limited military assistance to the Surinamese armed
forces since the election of a democratic government in 1991.
In recent years, the U.S. has provided training to military officers
and policymakers to promote a better understanding of the role
of the military in a civilian government. Also, since the mid-1990s,
the People's Republic of China has been donating military equipment
and logistical material to the Surinamese Armed Forces.
ECONOMY
The backbone of Suriname's economy is the export of alumina and
small amounts of aluminum produced from bauxite mined in the country.
In 1999, the aluminum smelter was closed. However, alumina exports
accounted for 72% of Suriname's estimated export earnings of $496.6
million in 2001. Suriname's bauxite deposits have been among the
world's richest.
In 1984, SURALCO, a subsidiary of the Aluminum Company of America
(ALCOA), formed a joint venture with the Royal Dutch Shell-owned
Billiton Company, which did not process the bauxite it mined in
Suriname. Under this agreement, both companies share risks and
profits.
Inexpensive power costs are Suriname's big advantage in the energy-intensive
alumina and aluminum business. In the 1960s, ALCOA built a $150-million
dam for the production of hydroelectric energy at Afobaka (south
of Brokopondo), which created a 1,560-sq. km. (600-sq. mi.) lake,
one of the largest artificial lakes in the world.
The major mining sites at Moengo and Lelydorp are maturing, and
it is now estimated that their reserves will be depleted by 2006.
Other proven reserves exist in the east, west, and north of the
country sufficient to last until 2045. However, distance and topography
make their immediate development costly. In October 2002, Alcoa
and BHP Billiton signed a letter of intent as the basis for new
joint ventures between the two companies, in which Alcoa will
take part for 55% in all bauxite mining activities in West Suriname.
The government and the companies are looking into cost-effective
ways to develop the new mines. The preeminence of bauxite and
ALCOA's continued presence in Suriname are key elements in the
U.S.-Suriname economic relationship.
A member of CARICOM, Suriname also exports rice, shrimp, timber,
bananas, fruits, and vegetables. Gold mining is unregulated by
the government, and this important part of the informal economy
(estimated at as much as 100% of GDP) must be brought into the
realm of tax and environmental authorities. Suriname has attracted
the attention of international companies in gold exploration and
exploitation as well as those interested in extensive development
of a tropical hardwoods industry and possible diamond mining.
However, proposals for exploitation of the country's tropical
forests and undeveloped regions of the interior traditionally
inhabited by indigenous and Maroon communities have raised the
concerns of environmentalists and human rights activists both
in Suriname and abroad. Oil is a promising sector; current output
is 12,000 barrels a day, and regional geology suggests additional
potential. Staatsolie, the state-owned oil company, is actively
seeking international joint venture partners.
At independence, Suriname signed an agreement with the Netherlands
providing for about $1.5 billion in development assistance grants
and loans over a 10- to 15-year period. Dutch assistance allocated
to Suriname thus amounted to about $100 million per year, but
was discontinued during periods of military rule. After the return
to a democratically elected government in 1991, Dutch aid resumed.
The Dutch relationship continues to be an important factor in
the economy, with the Dutch insisting that Suriname undertake
economic reforms and produce specific plans acceptable to the
Dutch for projects on which aid funds could be spent. In 2000,
however, the Dutch revised the structure of their aid package
and signaled to the Surinamese authorities their decision to disburse
aid by sectoral priorities as opposed to individual projects.
Although the present government is not in favor of this approach,
it has identified sectors and is now working on sectoral analyses
to present to the Dutch.
From 1991 to 1992, Suriname’s economic situation showed
some improvement, and measures taken in 1993 led to economic stabilization,
a relatively stable exchange rate, low inflation, sustainable
fiscal policies, and growth, However, Suriname’s economic
situation has deteriorated since 1996, due in large part to loose
fiscal policies of the Wijdenbosch government, which, in the face
of lower Dutch development aid, financed its deficit through credit
extended by the Central Bank. As a consequence, the parallel market
for foreign exchange soared so that by the end of 1998, the premium
of the parallel market rate over the official rate was 85%. Since
more than 90% of import transactions took place at the parallel
rate, inflation took off, with 12-month inflation growing from
0.5% at the end of 1996 to 23% at the end of 1998 and 113% at
the end of 1999. The government also instituted a regime of stringent
economic controls over prices, the exchange rate, imports, and
exports in an effort to contain the adverse effects of its economic
policies. The cumulative impact of soaring inflation, an unstable
exchange rate, and falling real incomes led to a political crisis.
Suriname elected a new government in May 2000, but until it was
replaced, the Wijdenbosch government continued its loose fiscal
and monetary policies. By the time it left office, the exchange
rate in the parallel market had depreciated further, over 10%
of GDP had been borrowed to finance the fiscal deficit, and there
was a significant monetary overhang in the country. The new government
dealt with these problems by devaluing the official exchange rate
by 88%, eliminating all other exchange rates except the parallel
market rate set by the banks and cambios, raising tariffs on water
and electricity, and eliminating the subsidy on gasoline. The
new administration also rationalized the extensive list of price
controls to 12 basic food items. More important, the government
ceased all financing from the Central Bank. It is attempting to
broaden its economic base, establish better contacts with other
nations and international financial institutions, and reduce its
dependence on Dutch assistance. However, to date the government
has yet to implement an investment law or to begin privatization
of any of the 110 parastatal, nor has it given much indication
that it has developed a comprehensive plan to grow the economy.
State-owned banana producer Surland closed its doors on April
5, 2002, after its inability to meet payroll expenses for the
second month in a row; it is still unclear if Surland will survive
its current crisis. Moreover, in January 2002, the current government
renegotiated civil servant wages (a significant part of the work
force and a significant portion of government expenditure), agreeing
to raises as high as 100%. Pending implementation of these wage
increases and concerned that the government may be unable to meet
these increased expenses, the local currency weakened from Sf
2200 in January 2002 to nearly Sf 2500 in April 2002. On March
26, 2003, the Central Bank of Suriname (CBvS) adjusted the exchange
rate of the U.S. dollar. This action resulted in further devaluation
of the Surinamese guilder. In 2004, the administration introduced
a new currency, the Surinamese dollar (SRD), to replace the guilder.
The government has kept the SRD exchange rate relatively stable
since its inception, at around 2.7 SRD per U.S. dollar. However,
uncertainty surrounding the May 25, 2005 election has put pressure
on the currency.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Since gaining independence, Suriname has become a member of the
United Nations, the OAS, and the Non-Aligned Movement. Suriname
is a member of the Caribbean Community and Common Market and the
Association of Caribbean States; it is associated with the European
Union through the Lome Convention. Suriname participates in the
Amazonian Pact, a grouping of the countries of the Amazon Basin
that focuses on protection of the Amazon region's natural resources
from environmental degradation. Reflecting its status as a major
bauxite producer, Suriname is also a member of the International
Bauxite Association. The country also belongs to the Economic
Commission for Latin America, the Inter-American Development Bank,
the International Finance Corporation, the World Bank, and the
International Monetary Fund. Suriname became a member of the Islamic
Development Bank in 1998, under the Wijdenbosch government.
Bilateral agreements with several countries of the region, covering
diverse areas of cooperation, have underscored the government's
interest in strengthening regional ties. The return to Suriname
from French Guiana of about 8,000 refugees of the 1986-91 civil
war between the military and domestic insurgents has improved
relations with French authorities. Longstanding border disputes
with Guyana and French Guiana remain unresolved. Negotiations
with the Government of Guyana brokered by the Jamaican Prime Minister
in 2000 did not produce an agreement, but the countries agreed
to restart talks after Guyanese national elections in 2001. In
January 2002, the presidents of Suriname and Guyana met in Suriname
and agreed to resume negotiations, establishing the Suriname-Guyana
border commission. An earlier dispute with Brazil ended amicably
after formal demarcation of the border.
In May 1997, then-President Wijdenbosch joined President Clinton
and 14 other Caribbean leaders during the first-ever U.S.-regional
summit in Bridgetown, Barbados. The summit strengthened the basis
for regional cooperation on justice and counternarcotics issues,
finance and development, and trade.
U.S.-SURINAMESE RELATIONS
Since the reestablishment of a democratic, elected government
in 1991, the United States has maintained positive and mutually
beneficial relations with Suriname based on the principles of
democracy, respect for human rights, rule of law, and civilian
authority over the military. To strengthen civil society and bolster
democratic institutions, the U.S. has provided training regarding
appropriate roles for the military in civil society to some of
Suriname's military officers and decision makers.
Narcotics trafficking organizations appear to be channeling increasing
quantities of cocaine through Suriname for repackaging and transport
to Europe and the United States; and of XTC for transport to the
United States. To assist Suriname in the fight against drugs and
associated criminal activity, the U.S. has helped train Surinamese
anti-drug squad personnel. The U.S. Peace Corps in Suriname works
with the Ministry of Regional Development and rural communities
to encourage community development in Suriname's interior.
Suriname is densely forested and has thus far suffered little
from deforestation, but increased interest in large-scale commercial
logging and mining in Suriname's interior have raised environmental
concerns. The U.S. Forest Service, the Smithsonian, and numerous
non-governmental environmental organizations have promoted technical
cooperation with Suriname's government to prevent destruction
of the country's tropical rain forest, one of the most diverse
ecosystems in the world. U.S. experts have worked closely with
local natural resource officials to encourage sustainable development
of the interior and alternatives such as ecotourism. Suriname's
tourism sector remains a minor part of the economy, and tourist
infrastructure is limited (in 2000, some 56,843 foreign tourists
visited Suriname). On December 1, 2000, UNESCO designated the
1.6-million hectare Central Suriname Nature Reserve a World Heritage
site.
Suriname's efforts in recent years to liberalize economic policy
created new possibilities for U.S. exports and investments. The
U.S. remains one of Suriname's principal trading partners, largely
due to ALCOA's longstanding investment in Suriname's bauxite mining
and processing industry. More than one-half of world exports to
Suriname originate in the United States. Several U.S. corporations
are active in Suriname, largely in the mining, consumer goods,
and service sectors. Principal U.S. exports to Suriname include
chemicals, aircraft, vehicles, machine parts, meat, and wheat.
U.S. consumer products are increasingly available through Suriname's
many trading companies. Opportunities for U.S. exporters, service
companies, and engineering firms will probably expand over the
next decade.
Suriname is looking to U.S. and other foreign investors to assist
in the commercial development of its vast natural resources and
to help finance infrastructure improvements. Enactment of a new
investment code and intellectual property rights protection legislation,
which would strengthen Suriname's attractiveness to investors,
has been discussed, and recently some progress has been made.
The investment law was approved by the National Assembly and is
currently being revised by the Ministry of Finance.
Principal U.S. Embassy Officials
Ambassador--Marsha E. Barnes
Deputy Chief of Mission--Mary Beth Leonard
Defense Attache--Lorenzo Harris
Political/Economic Office--Thomas Walsh
Management Officer--David Lamontagne
Consular Officer--Natalia Ioffe
Peace Corps Country Director--Charles Childers
The U.S. Embassy in Paramaribo is located at Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat
129, P.O. Box 1821, Paramaribo, Suriname (tel. 597-472900, 597-476459;
fax: 597- 410025).
Other Contact Information
U.S. Department of Commerce
International Trade Administration
Office of Latin America and the Caribbean
14th and Constitution, NW
Washington, DC 20230
Tel: 202-482-1658, 202-USA-TRADE
Fax: 202-482-0464
Caribbean/Latin American Action
1818 N Street, NW Suite 310
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202-466-7464
Fax: 202-822-0075
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for International Travel (HHS publication number CDC-95-8280)
is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington,
DC 20402, tel. (202) 512-1800.
Information on travel conditions, visa requirements, currency
and customs regulations, legal holidays, and other items of interest
to travelers also may be obtained before your departure from a
country's embassy and/or consulates in the U.S. (for this country,
see "Principal Government Officials" listing in this
publication).
U.S. citizens who are long-term visitors or traveling in dangerous
areas are encouraged to register their travel via the State Department’s
travel registration web site at https://travelregistration.state.gov
or at the Consular section of the U.S. embassy upon arrival in
a country by filling out a short form and sending in a copy of
their passports. This may help family members contact you in case
of an emergency.
Further Electronic Information
Department of State Web Site. Available on the Internet at http://www.state.gov,
the Department of State web site provides timely, global access
to official U.S. foreign policy information, including Background
Notes and daily press briefings along with the directory of key
officers of Foreign Service posts and more.
Export.gov provides a portal to all export-related assistance
and market information offered by the federal government and provides
trade leads, free export counseling, help with the export process,
and more.
STAT-USA/Internet, a service of the U.S. Department of Commerce,
provides authoritative economic, business, and international trade
information from the Federal government. The site includes current
and historical trade-related releases, international market research,
trade opportunities, and country analysis and provides access
to the National Trade Data Bank.
