Albina, Suriname

Last updated
Albina
Albina2008.jpg
Albina in 2008
Marowijne Resorts Suriname Neutral.png
Map showing the resorts of Marowijne District.
  Albina
Coordinates: 5°30′N54°03′W / 5.500°N 54.050°W / 5.500; -54.050
Country Flag of Suriname.svg Suriname
District Marowijne District
Resort (municipality) Albina
Area
 • Total397 km2 (153 sq mi)
Elevation
5 m (16 ft)
Population
 (2012 census) [1]
 • Total5,247
 • Density13/km2 (34/sq mi)

Albina is a town in eastern Suriname, and is capital of the Marowijne District. The town lies on the west bank of the Marowijne river (Maroni river), which forms the border with French Guiana, directly opposite the French Guianan town of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, to which it is connected by a frequent ferry service. Albina can be reached by bus via the East-West Link. The distance between Paramaribo and Albina is about 150 kilometres (95 mi). [2]

Contents

History

Albina was founded on 13 December 1845 by August Kappler, and was named after his wife Albina Josefine Liezenmaier (1815-1904). Kappler had left Germany, and journeyed to Suriname. In February 1845 he noticed an abandoned indigenous village near the Maroni river. Later he met friendly indigenous and Maroon people nearby, and decided to settle in the village after having received permission. [3] By 1913, there was a little town with a medical clinic, and Albina was home to 349 men and 266 women. [4]

On 22 July 1986, the Surinamese Interior War started. That night, the Jungle Commando, led by Ronnie Brunswijk, opened fire on the army barracks in Albina. The fighting lasted three hours. One soldier and two civilians were wounded. [5] The National Army responded by destroying the temple in Moengotapoe, and capturing all males present. [6] During the civil war (1986–1992) which followed, great parts of the area, including much of the town of Albina, and the road, were destroyed. It also caused a refugee crisis into French Guiana. [7] The birthplace of Ronnie Brunswijk is the village of Moiwana [8] Moiwana was the scene of the Moiwana massacre where 35 people, mostly women and children were killed by the National Army. [9]

On 24–25 December 2009, the Albina riots took place, [10] when local Maroon inhabitants attacked Brazilian, Chinese, Colombian and Peruvian gold prospectors after a man was allegedly stabbed to death by a Brazilian. [11] The riots caused one death, [10] and at least 24 wounded. [12]

Transportation

Plans have been made to build a bridge between Suriname and French Guiana, however as of May 2020, no action has been taken. [13] [14]

The town has a small airport, the Albina Airstrip, with a 650-metre (2,150 ft) asphalt runway in use since 1953.

Albina has a small boat (korjaal) connection to Galibi. The journey across the water takes about 1.5 hrs. There is a beach and a small tourist shop. The main reason tourists visit Galibi is to see the turtles, which come from all over the world (including places as distant as Costa Rica and Australia) to lay their eggs in Suriname. [15]

Notable people

Villages

Sister cities

5°30′N54°03′W / 5.500°N 54.050°W / 5.500; -54.050

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marowijne District</span> District of Suriname

Marowijne is a district of Suriname, located on the north-east coast. Marowijne's capital city is Albina, with other towns including Moengo and Wanhatti. The district borders the Atlantic Ocean to the north, French Guiana to the east, the Surinamese district of Sipaliwini to the south, and the Surinamese districts of Commewijne and Para to the west.

The Jungle Commando was a guerrilla commando group in Suriname. It was founded by Ronnie Brunswijk in 1986 to ensure equal rights for Suriname's minority Maroon population. The group was formed after the Suriname troops committed mass murder against 35 people in Moiwana Village, near Moengo, after the Suriname national army failed to capture Ronnie Brunswijk. The Commando fought against Dési Bouterse and the Surinamese army in the Suriname Guerrilla War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maroni (river)</span> River in South America, forming the border between Suriname and French Guiana

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Langatabiki</span> Village and island in the Pamacca Resort of Suriname

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Bokilifu Boni was a freedom fighter and guerrilla leader in Suriname, when it was under Dutch colonial rule. Born in Cottica to an enslaved African mother who escaped from her Dutch master, he grew up with her among the Maroons in the forest. He was such a powerful leader that his followers were known as Boni's people after him. They built a fort in the lowlands and conducted raids against Dutch plantations along the coast. Under pressure from Dutch regular army and hundreds of freedmen, they went east across the river into French Guiana. Boni continued to conduct raids from there, but was ultimately killed in warfare.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bigiston</span> Village in Marowijne District, Suriname

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Alfonsdorp is a village of indigenous Lokono people in the Albina resort of the Marowijne District of Suriname. The village is located on the East-West Link. The Wanekreek Nature Reserve is located near the village.

Marijkedorp is a village of indigenous Lokono people in the Albina resort of the Marowijne District of Suriname. Grace Watamaleo has been the village captain since 2011.

Grace Betty Watamaleo is a Surinamese politician who has served as Captain of the indigenous village Marijkedorp since 2011. She was also a member of the National Assembly of Suriname from 2015 to 2020, representing Marowijne District for the National Democratic Party (NDP).

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">France–Suriname relations</span> Bilateral relations

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moiwana massacre</span> 1986 massacre of Maroon villagers by Surinamese soldiers

The Moiwana Massacre was a massacre perpetrated by the armed forces of Suriname on the Maroon village of Moiwana on 29 November 1986.

References

  1. ↑ "Resorts in Suriname Census 2012" (PDF). Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  2. ↑ "Transport". Ministry of Transport, Communication and Tourism (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 30 May 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  3. ↑ "Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch West-Indië - Page 398 - Kappler (August)" (PDF). Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Dutch). 1916. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  4. ↑ "Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch West-Indië - Page 36 - Albina" (PDF). Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Dutch). 1916. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  5. ↑ "Leger Suriname zoekt gijzelaars". Reformatorisch Dagblad via Delpher . 26 July 1986. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  6. ↑ "The Kingdom Of The Netherlands In The Caribbean. Suriname 1954 – 2004: Kroniek van een illusie". Rozenberg Quarterly (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  7. ↑ "Distrikt Marowijne". Suriname.nu (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  8. ↑ "Het bloedbad van Moiwana in Suriname". Is Geschiedenis.nl (in Dutch). 29 November 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  9. ↑ "Suriname 2003 report". Archived from the original on 22 February 2006. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  10. 1 2 Elizondo, Gabriel (December 27, 2009). "Christmas violence in Suriname". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on December 31, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2009.
  11. ↑ "Conflito no Suriname levou a pelo menos 7 mortes, diz missionário" (in Portuguese). G1 Globo.com. December 26, 2009. Archived from the original on December 31, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2009.
  12. ↑ "Missão da FAB deve ir ao Suriname para prestar auxílio a brasileiros" (in Portuguese). G1 Globo.com. December 26, 2009. Archived from the original on December 30, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2009.
  13. ↑ IIRSA.org - Improvement of the Marowijne River International Crossing Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine - project summary
  14. ↑ Indianfeelings.nl - Fusie Suriname en Franks Guyana?
  15. ↑ "Galibi Tour naar Galibi Zeeschildpadden". Galibi Suriname (in Dutch and English). Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  16. ↑ "Live blog: Verkiezing president en vicepresident Suriname". De Ware Tijd (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  17. ↑ "Wat gebeurde er in Januari in Suriname". Suriname.nu (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  18. ↑ "Olton van Genderen Stichting" (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  19. ↑ "Oscar Harris". Suriname.nu (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  20. ↑ "Dorpen en Dorpsbesturen". Vereniging van Inheemse Dorpshoofden (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  21. ↑ "Winti Practives in Bigiston. Page 21". Research Gate. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  22. ↑ "Suriname Report". Amnesty International. 2003. Archived from the original on 22 February 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  23. ↑ "Koksijde vrijt met Albina". Parbode (in Dutch). Retrieved 23 December 2021.
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