Background Notes: Suriname 1982

CIA-RDP85M00363R001403210033-9

United States Department of State
Bureau of Public Affairs
June 1982

Geography

  • Caribbean Sea
  • Atlantic Ocean
  • Borders: Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, Brazil
  • Capital: Paramaribo

Official Name: Republic of Suriname

PROFILE

People

  • Nationality: Noun—Surinamer(s); Adjective—Surinamese
  • Population (1980): 352,041
  • Annual growth rate (1972–80): -7.3%
  • Ethnic groups: Creole 31%, Hindustani (East Indian) 37%, Javanese 15.3%, Bush Negro 2.6%, Amerindians, Chinese
  • Religions: Muslim, Hindu, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Moravian, Jewish
  • Languages: Dutch (official), English, Sranang Tongo (lingua franca)
  • Education: Compulsory ages 6–12
  • Literacy: 80%
  • Health: Infant mortality rate—30/1,000; Life expectancy—66 years
  • Work force (110,000): Agriculture 29%, Industry and commerce 15%, Government 40%

Geography

  • Area: 163,265 sq. km. (63,037 sq. mi.); slightly larger than Georgia
  • Cities: Capital—Paramaribo (pop. 150,000); Other cities—Nieuw Nickerie, Paranam, Moengo
  • Terrain: Varies from savanna to hills
  • Climate: Tropical

Government

  • Type: Military-civilian executive
  • Constitution: Suspended
  • Independence: November 25, 1975
  • Branches: Executive—military-civilian; Policy Center rules by decree; Legislative—suspended; Judicial—Court of Justice with no power to review government decrees
  • Administrative subdivisions: 9 districts
  • Political parties: Banned; No elections scheduled
  • Suffrage: None
  • Central government expenditures (1981 est.): $413 million
  • Flag: Green, white, red, white, green horizontal stripes with yellow star in middle of red bar

Economy

  • GNP (1981 est.): $924 million
  • Annual nominal growth rate (1981 est.): 7.9%
  • Per capita income: $2,600
  • Avg. inflation rate last 3 yrs.: 7.2%
  • Natural resources: Bauxite, iron ore, other minerals, forests, hydroelectric potential, fish and shrimp
  • Agriculture: Rice, sugar cane, bananas, beans, citrus fruits; Arable land—2 million hectares; Cultivated land—80,000 hectares
  • Industries: Aluminum, alumina, processed food, lumber, bricks, cigarettes
  • Trade (1980): Exports—$514 million (bauxite, alumina, aluminum, wood and wood products, rice, sugar); Imports—$504 million (capital equipment, petroleum, iron and steel, agricultural products)
  • Major markets/suppliers: US, Netherlands, EC, Caribbean countries
  • Official exchange rate (Jan. 1982): 1 Suriname guilder (S.F1) = US$0.56
  • Fiscal year: Calendar year
  • Membership in international organizations: UN and affiliated agencies (WHO, ILO, FAO, UNESCO, UNCTAD, World Bank, IMF), OAS, ECLA, International Bauxite Association, associated with EC through Lomé Convention, IDB, IFC

Geography (Map references)

[CENSORED] Approved For Release 2007/11/05 : CIA-RDP85M00363R001403210033-9

  • Rivers: Coppename, Saramacca, Suriname, Marowijne, Paramaribo
  • Cities: Albina, Zanderij, Moengo, Brokopondo, Brownsweg, Afobaka

Location: North-central coast of South America, bordered by Guyana, French Guiana, Brazil

  • Zones:
    1. Northern zone: sea level, agriculture concentrated at mouths of Suriname, Saramacca, Coppename, Nickerie Rivers
    2. Central zone: forested, scattered savannas, soil mostly quartz and loam
    3. Southern zone: hilly, up to 1,255 m (Wilhelmina Mountains), about 75% of country
  • Climate: Tropical, average rainfall Paramaribo 320 cm (90 in.), temperatures 21°C–32°C (70–90°F), little seasonal change, outside hurricane zone

People

  • Most reside in northern coastal plain
  • Ethnically varied: Hindustani (37%), Creole (31%), Javanese (15.3%), Bush Negro (2.6%), Amerindians, Chinese, Europeans
  • Creoles and Bush Negroes: descendants of African slaves
  • Hindustanis, Javanese, Chinese: descendants of contract laborers (1870–1930)
  • Amerindians: Arawak and Carib tribes

History

  • Christopher Columbus sighted coast (1498)
  • First successful settlement: 1651 by British Lord Willoughby
  • Jews from Brazil erected first Western Hemisphere synagogue (1665)
  • Treaty of Breda (1667): Netherlands acquired Suriname in exchange for Dutch rights in Nieuw Amsterdam
  • 18th–19th century: economic/political turmoil; control passed among England, France, Netherlands
  • Slavery abolished 1863; contract workers brought from China, India, Java
  • 1954: Kingdom of the Netherlands reconstruction; Suriname becomes autonomous
  • Independence: November 25, 1975
  • Military coup: February 25, 1980; constitution suspended; Policy Center established; civilian president forced to resign in Feb 1982; new government March 1982

Government

  • Policy Center: Headed by Army Commander, civilian members; rules by decree
  • Council of Ministers: Develop proposals; Prime Minister member of Policy Center; president ceremonial
  • Court of Justice: Highest judicial body; “Corruption Court” temporary
  • Districts: 9, each with government-appointed commissioner

Principal Officials

  • President: Mr. L.F. Ramdat-Misier
  • Policy Center Members: Lt. Col. Desire Bouterse (Chairman), Maj. Roy Horb (Vice Chairman), Prime Minister Henri Neijhorst, Foreign Minister Harvey Naarendorp, Secretary Ramon Cruden

Council of Ministers

  • Prime Minister: Henri Neijhorst (General Affairs, Finance)
  • Foreign Affairs: Harvey Naarendorp
  • Natural Resources, Energy, Development: Erik Tjon Kie Sim
  • Transportation, Trade, Industry: Imro Fong Poen
  • Education and Science: Harold Rusland
  • Public Works, Telecommunications, Construction: Mohamed Attaoellah
  • Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries: Jan Sariman
  • Labor and Social Affairs: Glenn Sankatsingh
  • Internal Affairs, Justice: Frank Leeflang
  • Health and Environment: Badrisein Sital
  • Culture, Youth, Sport, People’s Mobilization, Information: Lt. J. Hardjoprajitno
  • Army and Police: Capt. Iwan Graanoogst
  • Ambassador to US: Henricus Heidweiller
  • Ambassador to UN: Inderdew Sewrajsing

US Embassy: 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 711, Washington, D.C. 20037 (tel. 338-6980-84)

Political Conditions

  • Political parties banned
  • Constitution suspended August 13, 1980; commission to draft new constitution
  • No elections since Feb 25, 1980 coup
  • Military leadership announced adoption of socialist principles in 1981, policies pragmatic

Defense

  • Surinamese National Army: ~1,500 personnel (army, navy/coast guard, air force)
  • Missions: internal security, civic action, protect revolution, assist police
  • Equipment: light infantry weapons, armored cars, three modern patrol boats, Britten-Norman Defender planes
  • Netherlands provides defense assistance only via defense attaché

Economy

  • Rich bauxite deposits; mining, processing, exporting bauxite, alumina, aluminum backbone of economy
  • Major bauxite deposits: Moengo, Paranam; navigable rivers
  • SURALCO (Alcoa subsidiary) and Billiton produce/export bauxite
  • $150 million hydroelectric dam at Afobaka (1,550 km² lake)
  • Major food crops: rice, shrimp, timber, bananas, coconuts, citrus fruits
  • Imports: flour, dairy, meat, vegetables
  • Development assistance: $1.5 billion from Netherlands over 15 years, EC Development Fund, UN technical assistance
  • Agreements with SURALCO and Billiton for bauxite levy; review in 1982
  • Transportation: 4,580 km waterways, 2,400 km roads, 480 km paved, 80 km industrial railroads
  • Air connections: KLM, Suriname Airways (SLM), Antillian Airlines (ALM), Guyana Airways, Cruzeiro do Sol

Foreign Relations

  • Member: UN, OAS, Nonaligned Movement
  • Discussions: CARICOM
  • Associated with EC via Lomé Convention; member International Bauxite Association
  • Embassies: Netherlands, US, Venezuela, Guyana, Brazil, Belgium
  • Relations with socialist states: Cuba, Grenada, Nicaragua; Soviet Embassy announced
  • Western Europe and US remain major sources of aid
  • Longstanding border disputes with French Guiana and Guyana

U.S.–Suriname Relations

  • Friendly relations since 1790
  • US largest trading partner: 30% imports, 41% exports
  • Regular bilateral/multilateral dialogue

Principal U.S. Officials

  • Ambassador Designate: Robert W. Duemling
  • Charge d’Affaires: Richard LaRoche
  • Chief, Economic Section: Jack P. Gatewood
  • Chief, Commercial and Consular Sections: Cornelius M. Keur
  • Chief, Political Section: Arnold H. Campbell
  • Chief, Administrative Section: Martha L. Campbell
  • Public Information Officer: Edward Donovan

U.S. Embassy Address: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, P.O. Box 1821, Paramaribo (tel. 72900, 76507)

Reading List

  • C.F.A. and Lou Lichtveld. Surinam-A New Nation in South America. Paramaribo: Radhakishun, 1959.
  • Mitchell, Sir Harold. Europe in the Caribbean. London: Chambers, 1963.
  • Naipaul, V.S. The Middle Passage—The Caribbean Revisited. New York: Macmillan, 1963.
  • Price, Richard, ed. Maroon Societies. New York: Anchor Press, 1973.
  • Van Poll, Willem. Surinam. The Hague: Van Hoeve, 1959.

Tourist Information: Suriname Tourist Bureau, Rockefeller Plaza, New York, N.Y. 10020

Notes for Visitors

  • Clothing: Lightweight, wash-and-wear recommended
  • Customs: Visa not required; passport or proof of US citizenship required
  • Health: Medical services adequate; malaria endemic outside capital; tap water potable
  • Telecommunications: Good domestic/international service
  • Transportation: Overland restricted; light plane/canoe for remote areas; flights to Amsterdam; buses/taxis in Paramaribo

Source:

CIA-RDP85M00363R001403210033-9

Link:

Internal Link:

https://surinamepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Suriname-Country-Profile-1982-CIA-RDP85M00363R001403210033-9.pdf

Date:
June 1, 1982
Categories:
Desi Bouterse
Tags:
CIA
Boxes:
CIA-RDP85M00363R
Years:
1982
Persons:
Desi Bouterse, Roy Horb
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