Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Suriname
conventional short form: Suriname
local short form: Suriname
former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
local long form: Republiek Suriname
Government type:
constitutional democracy
Capital:
Paramaribo
Administrative divisions:
10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo,
Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo,
Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Independence:
25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Constitution:
ratified 30 September 1987
Legal system:
based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August
2000); Vice President Jules Rattankoemar AJODHIA (since 12 August
2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12
August 2000); Vice President Jules Rattankoemar AJODHIA (since 12
August 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president from among
the members of the National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly or, if no presidential or vice presidential candidate
receives a constitutional majority in the National Assembly after
two votes, by the larger People's Assembly (869 representatives from
the national, local, and regional councils), for five-year terms;
election last held 6 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2005)
election results: Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN elected president by the
National Assembly; percent of legislative vote - Runaldo Ronald
VENETIAAN 72.5%; Rashied DOEKHIE (NDP) 19.6%; total votes cast -
Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (New Front) 37 votes, Rashied DOEKHIE (NDP)
10 votes
note: widespread demonstrations during the summer of 1999 led to the
call for elections a year early
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NF 33, MC 10, DNP 2000 3, DA '91 2, PVF 2, PALU 1
note: widespread demonstrations during the summer of 1999 led to the
call for elections a year early
elections: last held 5 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2005)
Judicial branch:
Court of Justice (justices are nominated for life)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Alternative '91 or DA '91 (a coalition of the
Alternative Forum or AF and Party for Brotherhood and Unity in
Politics or BEP, formed in January 1991) [Winston JESSURUN];
Democratic National Platform 2000 or DNP 2000 (coalition of two
parties, Democratic Party and Democrats of the 21st Century) [Jules
WIJDENBOSCH]; Independent Progressive Democratic Alternative or OPDA
[Joginder RAMKHILAWAN]; Millennium Combination or MC (a coalition of
three parties, Democratic Alternative, Party for National Unity and
Solidarity, and National Democratic Party) [leader NA]; National
Democratic Party or NDP [Desire BOUTERSE]; Naya Kadam or NK [leader
NA]; Party for Renewal and Democracy or BVD [Tjan GOBARDHAN]; Party
of National Unity and Solidarity or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA]; Pertjaja
Luhur [Paul SOMOHARDJO]; Progressive Workers' and Farm Laborers'
Union or PALU [Ir Iwan KROLIS]; The New Front or NF (a coalition of
four parties Suriname National Party or NPS, Progressive Reform
Party or VHP, Suriname Labor Party or SPA, and Pertjaja Luhur)
[Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN]; The Progressive Development Alliance (a
combination of three parties, Renewed Progressive Party or HPP,
Party of the Federation of Land Workers or PVF, and Suriname
Progressive People's Party or PSV) [Harry KISOENSINGH]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
General Liberation and Development Party or ABOP [Ronnie
BRUNSWIJK]; Mandela Bushnegro Liberation Movement [Leendert ADAMS];
Tucayana Amazonica [Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJO]; Union for
Liberation and Democracy [Kofi AFONGPONG]
International organization participation:
ACP, Caricom, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDB,
IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS,
OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Henry Lothar ILLES
FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878
consulate(s) general: Miami
telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488
chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel A. JOHNSON
embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo
mailing address: Department of State, 3390 Paramaribo Place,
Washington, DC, 20521-3390
telephone: [597] 472900
FAX: [597] 420800
Flag description:
five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red
(quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a
large, yellow, five-pointed star centered in the red band