THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SITUATIONS IN

SURINAME AND OTHER CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES

February 27, 2008

Content• Welcome to Suriname

• Location

• Population

• Culture

• Language

• Economic Summary

• Regional Cooperation

• Relations with PRC

Welcome to Suriname

• The Republic of Suriname• In all three Guyana’s, there once lived the indige

nous tribe, named “Surinen”. According to historians, the name Suriname derived from them. Suriname is also revered to as:

“The beating heart of the Amazon”• Motto / Coat of Arms:• Justitia – Pietas – Fides (Latin)

Climate

Suriname has a humid, tropical climate with temperatures ranging from 23 degrees Centigrade at night to 37 degrees Centigrade in the afternoon during some months of the year. There are 2 seasons, a dry and a rainy seasons and it’s always “green” in Suriname.

Location

The Republic of Suriname is situated at the continent of South America just North of the Equator. Suriname is bordered in the South by the Federal Republic of Brazil, in the North by the Atlantic Ocean, in the East by the French Overseas Department of French Guyana and in the West by the former British colony Guyana, now the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

On the West Bank of the Suriname River lies the capital city Paramaribo. The name is derived from “Parmurbo” – an indigenous village dating back to the seventeenth century. Paramaribo is an extended city with few tall buildings. Its white-painted monumental wooden buildings with foundation made of red bricks typically marking this historic city. In 2002, the United Nations Cultural Organization UNESCO placed the inner city of Paramaribo on the World Heritage List, because of its historic importance. Paramaribo is also known as the "wooden city" of the Caribbean and Latin America.

Population

Suriname has 450,000 inhabitants (2007 estimate); average annual rate of natural increase is 1.5 percent. The population in the capital is approximately 240.000 residents. The inhabitants of Suriname forefathers came from all over the world. The varied composition of the population dates back to the colonial period. The original inhabitants, the indigenous Amerindian people had to deal with European domination, with particular reference to Dutch dominance. Ever since 1650 the colonial rulers forced Africans into slavery and send them to Suriname. There descendants are known as Afro-Surinamers or Creoles. The Maroons are descendants of the runaway slaves.

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In 1853, the first Chinese contract laborers arrived in Suriname for the plantations. After the abolition of slavery in 1863, also contract laborers from India and Indonesia came to work in Suriname. During the colonial period Jews, Lebanese and Europeans immigrated to Suriname. Long afterwards, Guyanese, Haitians, Brazilians, people from China and others decided to make Suriname their home as well.

Culture

Due to the mix of population groups, Surinamese culture is very diverse, which make the Surinamese nationals extremely proud of their rich culture.

• Ethnicity: Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians"; their ancestors emigrated from Northern India in the latter part of the 19th century) 37%, Creole (mixed European and African ancestry 31%, Javanese 15.3%, "Maroons" (their African ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior) 10.3%, Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese 1.7 %, Europeans 1%, others, mainly Jews and Syrians 1.1%.

Religions

• Hindu 27.4 percent; Protestant 25.2 percent; Roman Catholic 22.8 percent; Muslim19.6 percent; indigenous believes about 5 percent.

Language

The official language is Dutch, but Suriname recognizes about twenty five other local languages. The “Lingua Franca” is “Sranan Tongo”, with words originally from African, English, Portuguese and Dutch. “Sarnami Hindustani” is a Surinamese variant of Hindi that is freely spoken by the Hindustanis (Surinamese descendants of Indian immigrants). Javanese, Chinese, Maroons, as well as the indigenous people speak their original languages or a variation thereof. English and Portuguese are also widely spoken, especially at tourist oriented facilities and stores.

Economic Summary

Both the natural resources on land and in the sea give Suriname the 17th on a ranking of rich countries in the world. The economy is dominated by the mining industry, which accounts for more than a third of the GDP and subjects government revenues to mineral price volatility. The short term economic outlook is good. Suriname’s prospects for the medium term depend on the continued commitment of the Government to responsible monetary and fiscal policies. The government under the leadership of His Excellency President Venetiaan implemented an austerity program, raised some taxes and controlled spending. Economic policies are likely to remain the same.

Prospects for on and offshore oil production are good as a drilling program is underway. Offshore drilling was given a substantial boost in 2004 when the State Oil Company (“Staatsolie N.V.”) signed exploration agreements with Repsol, Maersk and Occidental. Bidding on these new offshore blocks was completed in 2006. New investment in the bauxite and gold mining sectors are also on their way.

Industries

Bauxite (Suriname ranks fourth among the world's producers of bauxite); crude and refined oil; gold mining; lumbering; food processing; fisheries.

Natural Resources: bauxite; hydro carbons; gold; hydro power; timber; fish; kaolin; and small amounts of iron ore, nickel, copper and platinum.

Agriculture Products: rice; bananas; palm kernels; coconuts; plantains; peanuts; citrus; vegetables; livestock; poultry; forest products and shrimps

Tourism

Regional Cooperation

Suriname became a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM in 1995) and is also a member of CARIFORUM. Suriname has made steps to integrate its economy into the regional and global economies. As a member of CARICOM, Suriname has reduced its import tariffs. Given the amount of natural resources, Suriname can play a prominent role in the development of the CARICOM. Suriname joined the Caribbean countries in forming the association of Caribbean States (ACS).

Suriname has been a full member of the WTO since its establishment in 1995. Suriname is currently as an ACP member negotiating an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), with the European Union as part of the Cotonou Agreement. Suriname ratified the Amazon Co-operation Agreement, which aims at the development of the people of the Amazon region (8 countries). Suriname is member of the Organization of American States (OAS) which Headquarter is based in Washington DC.

Relations with the PRC

On May 28, 1976, the People's Republic of China formally established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Suriname. In May 1977, China set up its embassy in Suriname, and Suriname opened its embassy in China in Jan. 1998

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, our two countries have carried fruitful cooperation in political, economic, military and cultural fields. In international affairs, our two countries always support each other and cooperate closely

Thank you