Suriname,officially the Republic of Suriname,is a sovereign state in northern South America. Situated slightly north of the equator within the tropics,over 90% of its territory is covered by rainforests,the highest proportion of forest cover in the world. Suriname is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north,French Guiana to the east,Guyana to the west,and Brazil to the south. It is the smallest country in South America by both population and territory,with around 612,985 inhabitants in an area of approximately 163,820 square kilometers. The capital and largest city is Paramaribo,home to roughly half the population.
The early history of Suriname dates from 3000 BCE when Native Americans first inhabited the area. The Dutch acquired Suriname from the English,and European settlement in any numbers dates from the 17th century,when it was a plantation colony utilizing slavery for sugar cultivation. With abolition in the late 19th century,planters sought labor from China,Madeira,India,and Indonesia,which was also colonized by the Dutch. Dutch is Suriname's official language. Owing to its diverse population,it has also developed a creole language,Sranan Tongo.
DesiréDelano Bouterse is a Surinamese military officer,politician,convicted murderer and drug trafficker who served as President of Suriname from 2010 to 2020. From 1980 to 1987,he was Suriname's de facto leader after conducting a military coup and establishing a period of military rule. In 1987,Bouterse founded the National Democratic Party (NDP). On 25 May 2010,Bouterse's political alliance,the Megacombinatie,which included the NDP,won the parliamentary elections,and on 19 July 2010,Bouterse was elected as President of Suriname with 36 of 50 parliament votes. He was inaugurated on 12 August 2010.
Ronald Runaldo Venetiaan is a former politician who served as the 6th President of Suriname.
The president of the Republic of Suriname is,in accordance with the Constitution of 1987,the head of state and head of government of Suriname,and commander-in-chief of the Suriname National Army (SNL). The president also appoints a cabinet.
Anton de Kom University is the only university in Suriname. It is located in the capital,Paramaribo,and named for Anton de Kom,an anti-colonialist activist who was killed by the Nazis while in exile in the Netherlands.
Ramsewak Shankar is a Surinamese politician who was the 4th President of Suriname,serving from 1988 to 1990. His government was overthrown by Dési Bouterse leading a bloodless military coup. Shankar had previously served as Agriculture &Fisheries Minister from 1969 to 1971.
Johannes Samuel Petrus "Johan" Kraag was a Surinamese politician who served as the President of Suriname from 29 December 1990,until 16 September 1991.
Netherlands–Suriname relations refers to the current and historical relations between the Netherlands and Suriname. Both nations share historic ties and a common language (Dutch) and are members of the Dutch Language Union.
Indonesia and Suriname established diplomatic relations in 1975. Both had a special relationship,based upon shared common history as former colonies of the Dutch Empire. Large numbers of Javanese migrated to Suriname to work on plantations during the late 19th and early 20th-centuries. Indonesia has an embassy in Paramaribo also accredited to the Co-operative Republic of Guyana,while Suriname has an embassy in Jakarta. Indonesia and Suriname are members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Forum of East Asia-Latin America Cooperation.
Philomena Bijlhout is a Surinamese-born Dutch former politician and television presenter.
Mexico–Suriname relations are the diplomatic relations between Mexico and Suriname. Both nations are members of the Association of Caribbean States,Community of Latin American and Caribbean States,Organization of American States and the United Nations.
Winston Guno Lackin was a Surinamese politician. He was Minister of Foreign Affairs of Suriname in the cabinet of President Dési Bouterse between 13 August 2010 and 13 August 2015.
Niermala Badrising is a Surinamese diplomat and politician. She was Minister of Foreign Affairs of Suriname in the cabinet of President Dési Bouterse between 12 August 2015 and 1 February 2017. She was ambassador to the United States from July 2017 until October 2021.
India–Suriname relations are the international relations that exist between India and Suriname. Indo-Surinamese form the largest ethnic group in Suriname,making 27.4% of the population. The current President of Suriname Chan Santokhi is of Indo-Surinamese descent.
The 1990 Surinamese coup d'état,usually referred to as the Telephone Coup,was a military coup in Suriname on 24 December 1990. The coup was carried out by the acting commander-in-chief of the Suriname National Army (SNL),Police Chief Ivan Graanoogst. As a result of the coup,President Ramsewak Shankar was dismissed from power,and parliament and government were disbanded.
Albert Ramchand Ramdin is a Surinamese diplomat serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Santokhi cabinet since 16 July 2020. He is a member of the Progressive Reform Party (VHP).
Harry Stanley Kensmil was a Surinamese civil servant,politician,and radio broadcaster. He served as Deputy Prime Minister of Suriname from 1987 to 1988,and Minister of Natural Resources and Energy from 1986 to 1988. He was part of the Supervisory Board of Staatsolie from 1984 to 1986 and 1988–2009,and was appointed as Secretary of the Board in 1997.
Henry Roëll Neijhorst is a Surinamese economist who served as Prime Minister of Suriname from 31 March to 9 December 1982. He also served as Minister of Finance from 15 March to 15 August 1980.
Yannick Kraag is a Dutch basketball player for Joventut Badalona and CB Prat. Standing at 202 cm,he plays as shooting guard or small forward.
