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South America/Turismo

Argentina	Chile	Falkland Island	Peru
Venezuela	Bolivia	Colombia	French Guyana
Suriname	Brasile	Ecuador	Paraguay
Uruguay

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Suriname Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see i Suriname is a small country in South America that borders on French Guiana, Guyana and Brazil. Suriname got its independence from the Netherlands in 1975. The first 25 years were not one big success. A military coup by Desi Bouterse, some corruption affairs, etc. And although the country looks quite steady now it has not improved the living standards of the inhabitants over the last 25 years. The capital of Paramaribo is an easy going place. There are a few sights, dating back to colonial times, there are a few nice markets and some good nightlife. Grand etang forest reserve has some interesting wildlife and mangrove swamp tours. The south of the country is hard to reach and is only for the really adventurous. __________History Edit This Arawak and Carib tribes lived in the region before Columbus sighted the coast in 1498. Spain officially claimed the area in 1593 but Portuguese and Spanish explorers of the time gave the area little attention. Dutch settlement began in 1616 at the mouths of several rivers between present-day Georgetown Guyana and Cayenne French Guiana. Suriname violent conflict between whites and native tribes and frequent uprisings by the imported slave population which was often treated with extraordinary cruelty. Barely if at all assimilated into European society many of the slaves fled to the interior where they maintained a West African culture and established the five major Bush Negro tribes in existence today: the Djuka Saramaccaner Matuwari Paramaccaner and Quinti. Plantations steadily declined in importance as labor costs rose. Rice bananas and citrus fruits replaced the traditional crops of sugar coffee and cocoa. Exports of gold rose beginning in 1900. The Dutch Government gave little financial support to the colony. Suriname's economy was transformed in the years following World War I when an American firm (ALCOA) began exploiting bauxite deposits in East Suriname. Bauxite processing and then alumina production began in 1941. During World War II more than 75% of U.S. bauxite imports came from Suriname. In 1951 Suriname began to acquire a growing measure of autonomy from the Netherlands. Suriname became an autonomous part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on December 15 1954 and gained independence on November 25 1975. Most of Suriname's political parties took shape during the autonomy period and were overwhelmingly based on ethnicity. For example the National Party of Suriname found its support among the Creoles the Progressive Reform Party members came from the Hindustani population and the Indonesian Peasant's Party was Javanese. Other smaller parties found support by appealing to voters on an ideological or pro-independence platform; the Partij Nationalistische Republiek (PNR) was among the most important. Its members pressed most strongly for independence and for the introduction of leftist political and economic measures. Many former PNR members would go on to play a key role following the coup of February 1980. Independence Revolution And Democracy Suriname was a working parliamentary democracy in the years immediately following independence. Henk Arron became the first Prime Minister and was re-elected in 1977. On February 25 1980 the elected government was overthrown by 16 noncommissioned officers. The military-dominated government then suspended the constitution dissolved the legislature and formed a regime which ruled by decree. Although a civilian filled the post of president a military man Desi Bouterse actually ruled the country. Throughout 1982 pressure grew for a return to civilian rule. In response the military ordered drastic action. Early in December 1982 military authorities arrested and killed 15 prominent opposition leaders including journalists lawyers and trade union leaders. Following the murders the United States and the Netherlands suspended economic and military cooperation with the Bouterse regime which increasingly began to follow an erratic but generally leftist-oriented political course. Economic decline rapidly set in after the suspension of economic aid from the Netherlands. The regime also restricted the press and limited the rights of its citizens. Continuing economic decline brought pressure for change. During the 1984-87 period the Bouterse regime tried to end the crisis by appointing a succession of nominally civilian-led cabinets. Many figures in the government came from the traditional political parties which had been shoved aside during the coup. The military eventually agreed to free elections in 1987 a new constitution and a civilian government. Another pressure for change had erupted in July 1986 when the Maroon or Bush Negro insurgency led by former soldier Ronnie Brunswijk began attacking economic targets in the country's interior. In response the army ravaged villages and killed suspected Brunswijk supporters. Thousands of Bush Negroes fled to nearby French Guiana. In an effort to end the bloodshed the Surinamese Government negotiated a peace treaty called the Kourou Accord with Brunswijk in 1989. Bouterse and other military leaders blocked the accord's implementation. On December 24 1990 military officers forced the resignations of the civilian President and Vice President elected in 1987. Military-selected replacements were hastily approved by the National Assembly on December 29. Faced with mounting pressure from the U.S. other nations the Organization of American States (OAS) and other international organizations the government held new elections on May 25 1991. The New Front Coalition comprised of the Creole National Party of Suriname (NPS) the Hindustani Progressive Reform Party (VHP) the Javanese Indonesian Peasant's Party (KTPI) and the Surinamese Labor Party (SPA) were able to win a majority in the National Assembly. On September 6 1991 NPS candidate Ronald Venetiaan was elected President and the VHP's Jules Ajodhia became Vice President of the New Front Coalition government. The Venetiaan government was able to effect a settlement to Suriname's domestic insurgency through the August 1992 Peace Accord with Bush Negro and Amerindian insurgents. In April 1993 Desi Bouterse left his position as commander of the armed forces and was replaced by Arthy Gorre a military officer committed to bringing the armed forces under civilian government control. Economic reforms institituted by the Venetiaan government eventually helped curb inflation unify the official and unofficial exchange rates and improve the government's economic situation by re-establishing relations with the Dutch thereby opening the way for a major influx of Dutch financial assistance. Despite these successes the governing coalition lost support and failed to retain control of the government in the subsequent round of national elections. The rival National Democratic Party (NDP) founded in the early 1990s by Desi Bouterse benefited from the New Front government's loss of popularity. The NDP won more National Assembly seats (16 of 51) than any other party in the May 1996 national elections and in September 1996 joined with the KTPI dissenters from the VHP and several smaller parties to elect NDP vice-chairman Jules Wijdenbosch president of a NDP-led coalition government. Divisions and subsequent reshufflings of coalition members in the fall of 1997 and early 1998 weakened the coalition's mandate and slowed legislative action. ____________Getting Around Edit This Kekemba Resort Paramaribo is a good place to start expeditions from the capital to the interior of the rainforest. Great swimming pool and hot tub. Lloyd is a great cook and John serves good breakfast. Mangolaan 118 There is also a bar/dancing at Mangolaan 118. The crowd is mainly gay but everybody is welcome. The theme parties are really great. To bad they are only once every month. __________Economy Edit This The backbone of the economy of Suriname is the export of aluminium oxide (alumina) and small amounts of aluminium produced from bauxite mined in the country. In 1999 , the aluminium smelter at Paranam was closed and mining at 'Onverdacht' ceased; however, alumina exports accounted for 72% of Suriname's estimated export earnings of US$ 496.6 million in 2001. Suriname's bauxite deposits have been among the world's richest. Inexpensive power costs are Suriname's big advantage in the energy-intensive alumina and aluminium business. In the 1960s , the "Aluminum Company of America" ( Alcoa ) built a US$150-million dam for the production of hydroelectric energy at Afobaka (south of Brokopondo), which created a 1,560 km? lake, one of the largest artificial lakes in the world. In 1976 - 1977 a 100 km long single track railway was constructed in West Suriname from the bauxite containing Bakhuys mountain range to the town of Apoera on the Corantijn river , to transport bauxite by river to processing plants elsewhere. The construction of this railway was financially funded by the Dutch government's independence/severance payments after November 25 1975 . After completion of this railway and associated facilities, for political and economical reasons it was never actually used and was left to be overgrown by the jungle. Also plans to construct a dam in the Kabalebo river were developed but never fully executed. In 1984, SURALCO, a subsidiary of Alcoa, formed a joint venture with the (at that time) Royal Dutch Shell -owned Billiton Company, which did not process the bauxite it mined in Suriname. Under this agreement, both companies share risks and profits. The major mining sites at Moengo and Lelydorp are maturing, and it is now estimated that their reserves will be depleted by 2006 . Other proven reserves exist in the east, west, and north of the country sufficient to last until 2045 . However, distance and topography make their immediate development costly. In October 2002 , Alcoa and BHP Billiton signed a letter of intent as the basis for new joint ventures between the two companies, in which Alcoa will take part for 55% in all bauxite mining activities in West Suriname. The government and the companies are looking into cost-effective ways to develop the new mines. The preeminence of bauxite and ALCOA's continued presence in Suriname is a key element in the U.S.-Suriname economic relationship. A member of CARICOM, Suriname also exports rice , shrimp , timber , bananas , fruits , and vegetables . Gold mining is unregulated by the government , and this important part of the informal economy (estimated as much as 100% of GDP ) must be brought into the realm of tax and environmental authorities. Suriname has attracted the attention of international companies in gold exploration and exploitation as well as those interested in extensive development of a tropical hardwoods industry and possible diamond mining. However, proposals for exploitation of the country's tropical forests and undeveloped regions of the interior traditionally inhabited by indigenous and Maroon communities have raised the concerns of environmentalists and human rights activists both in Suriname and abroad. Oil is a promising sector; current output is 12,000 barrels a day, and regional geology suggests additional potential. 'Staatsolie', the state-owned oil company, is actively seeking international joint venture partners. At independence (November 25, 1975), Suriname signed an agreement with the Netherlands providing for about US$1.5 billion in development assistance grants and loans over a 10- to 15-year period. Dutch assistance allocated to Suriname thus amounted to about US$100 million per year, but was discontinued during periods of military rule . After the return to a democratically elected government in 1991 , Dutch aid resumed. The Dutch relationship continues to be an important factor in the economy, with the Dutch insisting that Suriname undertake economic reforms and produce specific plans acceptable to the Dutch for projects on which aid funds could be spent. In 2000 , however, the Dutch revised the structure of their aid package and signaled to the Surinamese authorities their decision to disburse aid by sectoral priorities as opposed to individual projects. Although the present government is not in favor of this approach, it has identified sectors and is now working on sectoral analyses to present to the Dutch. After a short respite in 1991-1996, when measures taken in 1993 led to economic stabilization, a relatively stable exchange rate, low inflation, sustainable fiscal policies, and growth, Suriname's economic situation deteriorated from 1996 to the present. This was due in large part to loose fiscal policies of the Wijdenbosch government, which, in the face of lower Dutch development aid, financed its deficit through credit extended by the central bank. As a consequence, the parallel market for foreign exchange soared so that by the end of 1998, the premium of the parallel market rate over the official rate was 85%. Since over 90% of import transactions took place at the parallel rate, inflation took off, with 12-month inflation growing from 0.5% at the end of 1996, to 23% at the end of 1998, and 113% at the end of 1999. The government also instituted a regime of stringent economic controls over prices, the exchange rate, imports, and exports, in an effort to contain the adverse efforts of its economic policies. The cumulative impact of soaring inflation, an unstable exchange rate, and falling real incomes led to a political crisis. Suriname elected a new government in May 2000, but until it was replaced, the Wijdenbosch government continued its loose fiscal and monetary policies. By the time it left office, the exchange rate in the parallel market had depreciated further, over 10% of GDP had been borrowed to finance the fiscal deficit, and there was a significant monetary overhang in the country. The new government dealt with these problems by devaluing the official exchange rate by 88%, eliminating all other exchange rates except the parallel market rate set by the banks and cambios, raising tariffs on water and electricity, and eliminating the subsidy on gasoline . The new administration also rationalized the extensive list of price controls to 12 basic food items. More important, the government ceased all financing from the central bank . It is attempting to broaden its economic base, establish better contacts with other nations and international financial institutions, and reduce its dependence on Dutch assistance. However, to date the government has yet to implement an investment law or to begin privatization of any of the 110 parastatal, nor has it given much indication that it has developed a comprehensive plan to grow the economy. State-owned banana producer Surland closed its doors on April 5, 2002 , after its inability to meet payroll expenses for the second month in a row; it is still unclear if Surland will survive its current crisis. Moreover, in January 2002, the current government renegotiated civil servant wages (a significant part of the work force and a significant portion of government expenditure), agreeing to raises as high as 100%. Pending implementation of these wage increases and concerned that the government may be unable to meet these increased expenses, the local currency weakened from Sf 2200 in January 2002 to nearly Sf 2500 in April 2002. On March 26, 2003, the central bank of Suriname (CBvS) adjusted the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar. This action resulted in further devaluation of the Surinamese guilder. The official exchange rate of the US$ was SF 2,650 for selling and SF 2,600 for purchasing. With the official exchange rate, the CBvS came closer to the exchange rate on the parallel market which sold the U.S. dollar for SF 3,250. [ edit ] Currency From 2004: Surinamese dollar (SRD) = 100 cent; USD 1.00 is ca. SRD 2.74 (July 2007) Before 2004: Surinamese gulden (SRG) = 100 cent, SRD 1 = SRG 1000; coins had extremely low official value and a much higher collector's value; their official value has now been multiplied by 1000: the value in SRD cent is equal to the former value in SRG cent. The same applies for "currency notes" (SRG 1 and 2.50). Surinamese guilders per US dollar - 2,346.75 (2002), 2,178.5 (2001), 1,322.47 (2000), 859.44 (1999), 401 (1998) Note: during 1998, the exchange rate splintered into four distinct rates; in January 1999 the government floated the guilder, but subsequently fixed it when the black-market rate plunged; the government then allowed trading within a band of SRG 500 around the official rate [ edit ] Other statistics Industrial production growth rate: 6.5% (1994 est.) Electricity - production: 2.008 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 24.65% hydro power : 75.35% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 1.867 billion kWh (1998) exports: 0 kWh (1998) imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: paddy rice , bananas , palm kernels, coconuts , plantains , peanuts ; beef , chickens ; forest products; shrimp Exports: US$406.1 million (f.o.b., 1998) (Wikipedia) _____________People Edit This Population: 427 980 (July 1998 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 33% (male 72 945; female 69 468) 15-64 years: 62% (male 133 840; female 129 452) 65 years and over: 5% (male 10 309; female 11 966) (July 1998 est.) Population growth rate: 0.77% (1998 est.) Birth rate: 22.48 births/1 000 population (1998 est.) Death rate: 5.79 deaths/1 000 population (1998 est.) Net migration rate: -8.99 migrant(s)/1 000 population (1998 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female (1998 est.) Infant mortality rate: 27.44 deaths/1 000 live births (1998 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.61 years male: 68.05 years female: 73.29 years (1998 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.59 children born/woman (1998 est.) Nationality: noun: Surinamer(s) adjective: Surinamese Ethnic groups: Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians"; their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th century) 37% Creole (mixed white and black) 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% white 1% other 1.1% Religions: Hindu 27.4% Muslim 19.6% Roman Catholic 22.8% Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian) indigenous beliefs 5% Languages: Dutch (official) English (widely spoken) Sranang Tongo (Surinamese sometimes called Taki-Taki is native language of Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca among others) Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi) Javanese Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93% male: 95% female: 91% (1995 est.) ::::::::::Brownsberg nature park Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see View of Brokopondo lake seen from Brownsberg. View of Brokopondo lake seen from Brownsberg. Bert Scheeren Brownsberg is about 120km south of Paramaribo and is connected by (mainly dirt) road. You can reach it in two and a half hours from Paramaribo. The park comprises an area of montane tropical rainforest overlooking one of the world's largest reservoirs, the W J van Blommestein Meer. Guided tours are available and include a short walk on the Mazaroni plateau, which gives fine views of the reservoir to the east, and a longer hike which involves a steep descent into a canyon with small but attractive waterfalls. It is possible to book the whole trip in Paramaribo and do it in just one day. :::::::::::: Paramaribo Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see i Paramaribo is the capital of Suriname and the main port. It is an attractive city with many colonial buildings although quite a few of them look a bit run down. Fort Zeelandia now houses the Suriname Museum. The fort is in a good condition and is well worth a visit. Furthermore there are a few interesting buildings of a religious nature. There is the St.Peter & st. Paul Cathedral, two synagogues, one of the biggest mosques in the Carribean and some hindu temples in the Koningstraat- which means your out of luck if you are a Buddhist. The Palmentuin and the Cultuurtuin are nice parks where you can spend a few hours relaxing. _____________Getting There Edit This x [Add Global transport mode] From Puerto Rico Edit This Martinair from Amsterdam is good option! type: By Air World66 rating: [rate it] ________Nightlife and Entertainment Edit This i PARAMARIBO [Add Entertainment place] Starzz Edit This Newest club in Paramaribo with three dancefloors. Located at the strip just across the road from the Torarica Hotel. Friday and Saturday are the BIG nights. Don't go there before 1am. Surinamese parties start late and end early in the morning. type: Clubs and dancing World66 rating: [rate it]