Traveling Luck for Suriname. Suriname, South America

Suriname is located in Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana.

Land in Suriname is mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps.

Surinamese land covers an area of 163270 square kilometers which is slightly larger than Georgia

Suriname has borders with Brazil for 597km, French Guiana for 510km and Guyana for 600km.

Surinamese flag Surinamese national flag (Flag of Suriname)

As for the Surinamese climate; tropical; moderated by trade winds.

Surinamer(s) speak 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.

Places of note in Suriname

Surinamese Map Surinamese map

Regions of Suriname

Independence from the Netherlands was granted in 1975. Five years later the civilian government was replaced by a military regime that soon declared a socialist republic. It continued to rule through a succession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when international pressure finally forced a democratic election. In 1990, the military overthrew the civilian government, but a democratically elected government returned to power in 1991.

Country Profile for Suriname

The economy is dominated by the mining industry, which accounts for more than a third of GDP and subjects government revenues to mineral price volatility. The short-term economic outlook depends on the government's ability to control inflation and on the development of projects in the bauxite and gold mining sectors. Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term will depend on continued commitment to responsible monetary and fiscal policies and to the introduction of structural reforms to liberalize markets and promote competition. The government of Ronald VENETIAAN, in his first term, implemented an austerity program, raised taxes, and attempted to control spending. Economic policies are likely to remain the same during VENETIAAN's second term. Prospects for local onshore oil production are good, as a drilling program is underway. Offshore oil drilling was given a boost in 2004 when the State Oil Company (Staatsolie) signed exploration agreements with Repsol, Mearsk, and Occidental.

Surinamese natural resources include timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore

smallest independent country on South American continent; mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna that, for the most part, is increasingly threatened by new development; relatively small population, mostly along the coast

Surinamese religion is Hindu 27.4%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), Roman Catholic 22.8%, Muslim 19.6%, indigenous beliefs 5%.

Natural hazards in Suriname include NA.

Travel Advice for Suriname

Suriname

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Summary, Crime, Sea Safety and Health (Malaria and vaccinations) sections.  The overall level of the advice has not changed.

SUMMARY

  • There is no British High Commission in Suriname.  For emergency consular assistance you should telephone the British Honorary Consul (+597 402 558 or +597 402 870).  Alternatively, you can contact the British High Commission in Georgetown, Guyana (see Contact details section).

  • The threat from terrorism is low.

  • Around 700 British tourists/nationals visit Suriname every year.  Most visits are trouble-free.  We are not aware of any British nationals who have required consular assistance in Suriname in the past year but burglary, armed robbery and violent crime occur with some frequency in Paramaribo and in outlying areas.

  • We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.  Please see: Travel Insurance.


SAFETY AND SECURITY

NATURAL DISASTERS
Much of the north and centre of Suriname is prone to flooding.  In May 2006, large parts of the country, and an estimated 25,000 people, were affected by severe flooding.


GENERAL

If things go wrong when overseas, please see:  What We Can Do To Help.
Credit cards are not widely accepted outside the major hotels in Suriname.  You should check with your intended hotel to confirm that credit cards are accepted.  You should bring sufficient currency to cover your anticipated expenditure.  Please note that sterling cannot be exchanged; you should bring with you US dollars or Euros.
Also, ATM locations should be confirmed with your card provider before travel.
Long term visitors to Suriname should register their presence with the British Honorary Consulate.
British Honorary Consul
c/o VSH United Buildings
Van’t Hogerhuysstraat 9-11
PO Box 1860
Paramaribo
Telephone: +597 402558/402870
Facsimile: +597 403515/403824
Email: britishconsulate@vshunited.com
Office hours:  (GMT): Mon-Fri: 11:00-20:15
(Local): Mon-Fri: 08:00-16:15


OTHER

Suriname Country Profile