Suriname
 

1667 - 14 Mar 1966               14 Mar 1966 - 25 Nov 1975                  Adopted 25 Nov 1975   Map of Suriname Hear National Anthem "Godzij met ons Suriname!"  (God Be With Our Suriname) Text of National Anthem Anthem Adopted 1959 Constitution (30 Sep 1987) Capital: Paramaribo Currency: Surinamese Guilder (SRG)  National Holiday: 25 Nov  (1975) Independence Day Population: 470,784 (2007) GDP: $3.13 billion (2006) Exports: $881 million (2004) Imports: $750 million (2004) Ethnic groups: Indo-Pakistani (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%, Bush Negro ("Maroons" their African ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior) 10%, Amerindian 2.5%, Chinese 2%, white 1%, other 1.5% (1999) Total Armed Forces: 1,840 (2003) Merchant marine: 1 ship (2006) Religions: Christian 50.4% (of which Roman Catholic 22.3%, Protestant [mostly Moravian] 17.1%, other Christian 11%), Hindu 17.8%, Muslim 13.9%, non-religious 4.4%, Spiritist (incl. Voodoo) 3.5%, traditional beliefs 1.9%, other 7.7% (2000) International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, ACTO, APM, BTWC, Caricom, CSN, CTBT, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (suspended), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISESCO, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, KP, LAES, MIGA, NAM, NPT, NTBT, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNASUR, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Suriname Chronology 1651 -  1 May 1688         English settlement at Willoughby (modern-day                               Paramaribo; Dutch occupation 17 Feb-18 Oct 1676) 19 Feb 1667                Dutch colony (Dutch Guiana). 20 Aug 1799 -  4 Dec 1802  British occupation.  4 Dec 1802                Restored to the Netherlands.  9 May 1804 - 27 Feb 1816  British occupation. 27 Feb 1816                Restored to the Netherlands (Dutch Guiana). 1828 - 1848                United with Netherlands Antilles as Dutch                               West Indies (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao,                              Dutch Guiana, Saba, and Sint Maarten). 23 Nov 1941 - 1945         U.S. protectorate. 20 Sep 1948                Renamed Surinam. 15 Dec 1954                Autonomy (overseas territory). 25 Nov 1975                Independence (Republic of Suriname).

Chairman of the National Military Council (de facto leader)
25 Feb 1980 - 25 Jan 1988  Désiré "Dési" Delano Bouterse      (b. 1945)             Mil

Governors of Willoughby
1651 - 1654                Anthony Rowse
1654 - 17 Feb 1667         William Byam
17 Feb 1667 - 18 Oct 1667  Maurits de Rama
18 Oct 1667 -  3 Nov 1667  John Harman
 3 Nov 1667 -  1 Feb 1668  Samuel Barry
Governors of Dutch Guiana (of the Dutch West India Company)
1668 - 1669                Abraham Krijnssen                  (d. 1669)
1669 - 1671                Philip Julius Lichtenberg
1671 - 1677                Pierre Versterre
1677                       Abel Thisse
1677 - 1678                Tobias Adriaensen
1678 - 1680                Johannes Heinsius                  (d. 1680)
1680                       Everhard van Hemert
1680 - 1683                Laurens Verboom
1683 - 1688                Cornelis van Aersen van            (b. 1637 - d. 1688)
                             Sommelsdijk
1688 - 1689                Abraham van Vridenburgh
1689 - 1696                Johan van Scharphuizen
14 May 1696 -  2 Mar 1707  Paulus van der Veen
 2 Mar 1707 - 27 Sep 1707  William de Gruyter                 (b. 16.. - d. 1707)
27 Sep 1707 - 19 Jan 1710  Francis Anthonie de Rayneval
                             (1st time) (acting)
19 Jan 1710 - 28 Jul 1715  Johan de Goyer                     (b. 16.. - d. 1715)
28 Jul 1715 - 22 Jan 1716  Francis Anthonie de Rayneval
                             (2nd time) (acting)
22 Jan 1716 -  4 Oct 1717  Johan de Mahony                    (b. 16.. - d. 1717)
 4 Oct 1717 -  2 Mar 1718  Francis Anthonie de Rayneval
                             (3rd time) (acting)
 2 Mar 1718 -  4 Sep 1721  Jan Coetier                        (b. 16.. - d. 1721)
 4 Sep 1721 -  1 Mar 1722  Francis Anthonie de Rayneval
                             (4th time) (acting)
Governors-general (1828-1848 also governor-general of Dutch West Indies)
 1 Mar 1722 - 17 Sep 1727  Hendrik Temminck                   (d. 1727)
17 Sep 1727 -  9 Nov 1728  Francis Anthonie de Rayneval
                             (acting)
 9 Nov 1728 - 26 Jan 1734  Karel Emilius Henry de Cheusses    (d. 1734)
26 Jan 1734 - 11 Dec 1734  Johan Fredrik Cornelis de Vries
                             (1st time) (acting)
11 Dec 1734 - 26 Jan 1735  Jacob Alexander Henry de Cheusses
26 Jan 1735 -  4 Mar 1735  Johan Fredrik Cornelis de Vries
                             (2nd time) (acting)
 4 Mar 1735 - 22 Dec 1735  Council
22 Dec 1735 - 11 Aug 1737  Johan Raye van Brenelerwaard
11 Aug 1737 - 15 Oct 1742  Gerrit van de Schepper             (d. 1742)
15 Oct 1742 - 23 Apr 1751  Johan Jacob Mauricius              (b. 1692 - d. 1768)
23 Apr 1751 -  7 Sep 1752  Hendrik Ernst baron van Spörcke    (d. 1752)
                             (acting)
 7 Sep 1752 - 22 Oct 1754  Wigbold Crommelin (1st time)       (b. 1712 - d. 1789)
                             (acting)
22 Oct 1754 - 24 Aug 1756  Pieter Albert van der Meer         (d. 1756)
24 Aug 1756 - 21 Jan 1757  Jan Nepveu (1st time) (acting)     (b. 1719 - d. 1779)
21 Jan 1757 - 22 Nov 1768  Wigbold Crommelin (2nd time)       (s.a.)
                             (acting to 20 Sep 1757)
22 Nov 1768 - 27 Feb 1779  Jan Nepveu (2nd time)              (s.a.)
                             (acting to 8 Mar 1770)
27 Feb 1779 - 23 Sep 1783  Bernard Texier                     (d. 1783)
23 Sep 1783 - 24 Dec 1784  Wolphert Jacob Beeldsnijder Matroos
                             (acting)
24 Dec 1784 - 15 Jun 1790  Jan Gerhard Wichers
15 Jun 1790 -  4 Dec 1802  Juriaan François Frederici         (b. 1751 - d. 1812)
                            (acting to 24 Aug 1792)
 4 Dec 1802 -  9 Dec 1803  Willem Otto Blois van Treslong
                             (acting)
 9 Dec 1803 -  9 May 1804  Pierre Beranger -Commissioner-general
 9 May 1804 - 15 Apr 1805  Sir Charles Green
15 Apr 1805 - 27 Sep 1808  William Carlyon                    (b. 17.. - d. 1808)
                             Hughes -Lieutenant governor
27 Sep 1808 -  4 May 1809  Sir John Wardlau Bar (acting)
 4 May 1809 -  8 Nov 1811  Charles Bentinck,                  (b. 1764 - d. 1811)
                             Earl of Bentinck -Chief commissioner
 8 Nov 1811 - 27 Feb 1816  Pinson Bonham (acting)             (b. 1762 - d. 1855)
27 Feb 1816 - 18 Jul 1816  Willem Benjamin van Panhuys        (b. 17.. - d. 1816)
18 Jul 1816 -  1 Apr 1822  Cornelis Reinhard Vaillant (acting)
 1 Apr 1822 - 12 Oct 1827  Abraham de Veer                    (b. 1767 - d. 1838)
12 Oct 1827 -  1 Aug 1828  Johannes Graaf van den             (b. 1780 - d. 1844)
                             Bosch -Commissioner-general
 1 Aug 1828 - 19 Dec 1831  Paulus Roelof Cantz'laar           (d. 1831)
19 Dec 1831 -  5 Jun 1838  Evert Ludolph baron van Heeckeren 
                             (acting to 6 May 1832)
 5 Jun 1838 - 16 Jul 1839  Philippus de Kanter (1st time) 
                             (acting)
16 Jul 1839 - 31 Mar 1842  Julius Constantijn Rijk            (b. 1787 - d. 1854)
31 Mar 1842 - 15 Nov 1842  Philippus de Kanter (2nd time)
                             (acting)
15 Nov 1842 - 16 Jul 1845  Burchard Jean Elias                (b. 1799 - d. 1871)
16 Jul 1845 - 13 Oct 1845  Philippus de Kanter (3rd time)
                             (acting)
13 Oct 1845 -  1 Mar 1852  Reinier Frederik baron van Raders  (b. 1794 - d. 1868)
 1 Mar 1852 - 14 Jun 1852  Philippus de Kanter (4th time)
                             (acting)
14 Jun 1852 - 22 Jun 1852  Coenrad Barends (acting)
22 Jun 1852 - 25 Aug 1855  Johann George Otto Stuart von      (b. 1806 - d. 1857) 
                             Schmidt auf Altenstadt
25 Aug 1855 - 11 Aug 1859  Charles Pierre Schimpf             (b. 1813 - d. 1886)
11 Aug 1859 - 29 Jun 1867  Reinhart Frans van Lansberge       (b. 1804 - d. 1873)
29 Jun 1867 -  1 Aug 1873  Willem Hendrik Johan van Idsinga   (b. 1822 - d. 1896)
 1 Aug 1873 -  1 Nov 1882  Cornelis Ascanius van Sypesteyn    (b. 1823 - d. 1892)
 1 Nov 1882 - 30 Jul 1885  Johannes Herbert August Willem     (b. 1829 - d. 1893)
                             baron van Heerdt tot Eversberg
30 Jul 1885 - 18 Jul 1888  Hendrik Jan Smidt                  (b. 1831 - d. 1917)
18 Jul 1888 - 30 Jan 1889  Warmolt Tonckens (1st time)(acting)(b. 1848 - d. 1922)
30 Jan 1889 - 27 Jun 1891  Maurits Adriaan de Savornin Lohman (b. 1832 - d. 1899)
27 Jun 1891 - 12 May 1896  Titus Anthony Jacob van Asch       (b. 1849 - d. 1902)
                             van Wijck
12 May 1896 -  4 Oct 1902  Warmolt Tonckens (2nd time)        (s.a.)
 4 Oct 1902 - 12 Sep 1905  Cornelis Lely                      (b. 1854 - d. 1929)
12 Sep 1905 - 18 Nov 1905  David Hendrick Havelaar (acting)
18 Nov 1905 - 28 Feb 1908  Alexander Willem Frederik Idenburg (b. 1861 - d. 1935)
28 Feb 1908 - 10 Aug 1908  Pieter Hofstede Crull (1st time) 
                             (acting)
10 Aug 1908 - 30 Jun 1911  Dirk Fock                          (b. 1858 - d. 1941)
30 Jun 1911 - 14 Jul 1911  Louis Marie Rollin Couquerque
14 Jul 1911 - 17 Oct 1911  Pieter Hofstede Crull (2nd time) 
                             (acting)
17 Oct 1911 - 25 Nov 1916  Willem Dirk Hendrik baron van      (b. 1858 - d. 1935)
                             Asbeck
25 Nov 1916 - 25 Nov 1919  Gerard Johan Staal (1st time)      (b. 1870 - d. 1936)
25 Nov 1919 - 15 Jul 1920  Lambertus Johannes Rietberg
                             (1st time)
15 Jul 1920 - 16 Dec 1920  Gerard Johan Staal (2nd time)      (s.a.)
16 Dec 1920 - 23 May 1921  Lambertus Johannes Rietberg
                             (2nd time)
23 May 1921 - 21 May 1924  Aarnoud Jan Anne Aleid baron van   (b. 1871 - d. 1957)
                             Reemstra (1st time)
21 May 1924 - 18 Sep 1924  Lambertus Johannes Rietberg
                             (3rd time)
18 Sep 1924 - 21 Feb 1925  Jan Luchies Nysingh
21 Feb 1925 -  1 Apr 1928  Aarnoud Jan Anne Aleid baron van   (s.a.) 
                             Reemstra (2nd time)
 1 Apr 1928 - 16 Aug 1933  Abraham "Bram" Arnold Lodewijk     (b. 1884 - d. 1966)
                             Rutgers 
16 Aug 1933 -  3 Jan 1944  Johannes Coenraad Kielstra         (b. 1878 - d. 1951)
16 Aug 1935 - 12 Apr 1936  Johannes Cornelis Brons            (b. 1884 - d. 1964)
                             (1st time) (acting for Kielstra)
Sep 1938 - Jan 1939        Johannes Cornelis Brons            (s.a.)
                             (2nd time) (acting for Kielstra) 
 3 Jan 1944 -  2 Aug 1948  Johannes Cornelis Brons (3rd time) (s.a.)
 2 Aug 1948 -  2 Dec 1949  Willem Huender                     (b. 1900 - d. 1963)
 2 Dec 1949 - 11 Feb 1956  Jan Klaasesz                       (b. 1907 - d. 1997)
11 Feb 1956 - 18 Mar 1963  Jan van Tilburg                    (b. 1900 - d. 1977)
19 Mar 1963 - 22 Aug 1964  Archibald Currie                   (b. 1889 - d. 1986)
                             (acting to 1 May 1963)
22 Aug 1964 - 26 Feb 1965  François Haverschmidt (acting)     (b. 1906 - d. 1987)
26 Feb 1965 - 12 Aug 1968  Henri Lucien de Vries              (b. 1909 - d. 1987)
12 Aug 1968 - 25 Nov 1975  Johan Henry Eliza Ferrier          (b. 1910)
Presidents
25 Nov 1975 - 13 Aug 1980  Johan Henry Eliza Ferrier          (s.a.)
13 Aug 1980 - 15 Aug 1980  Désiré "Dési" Delano Bouterse      (s.a.)               Mil 
                            (National Army Commander)(1st time)
15 Aug 1980 -  4 Feb 1982  Hendrick Rudolf Chin A Sen         (b. 1934 - d. 1999)  NRP
 4 Feb 1982 -  8 Feb 1982  Désiré "Dési" Delano Bouterse      (s.a.)               Mil
                             (National Army Commander)(2nd time)
 8 Feb 1982 - 25 Jan 1988  Lachmipersad Frederick Ramdat      (b. 1926 - d. 2004)
                             Misier (acting)
25 Jan 1988 - 24 Dec 1990  Ramsewak Shankar                   (b. 1937)            VHP
24 Dec 1990 - 29 Dec 1990  Ivan Frank Graanoogst                                   Mil
                             (National Army Commander) 
29 Dec 1990 - 16 Sep 1991  Johannes Samuel Petrus Kraag       (b. 1913 - d. 1996)  NPS
16 Sep 1991 - 15 Sep 1996  Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan (1st time)(b. 1936)            NF/NPS
15 Sep 1996 - 12 Aug 2000  Jules Albert Wijdenbosch           (b. 1941)            NDP 
12 Aug 2000 -              Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan (2nd time)(s.a.)               NF/NPS

Prime ministers
Jun 1949 - Apr 1951        Julius Caesar de Miranda           (b. 1906 - d. 1956)  PSPP 
 5 Apr 1951 -  4 Jun 1951  Jacques Adam Drielsma              (b. 1888 - d. 19..)
 4 Jun 1951 -  6 Sep 1952  Johannes Ate Eildert Buiskool      (b. 1899 - d. 1960)
 6 Sep 1952 -  4 Dec 1952  Adriaan Cornelis Jasper Marius     (b. 1887 - d. 1952)
                             Alberga 
 4 Dec 1952 - 16 Apr 1955  Archibald Currie                   (s.a.)
                             (acting to 20 Aug 1954)
16 Apr 1955 - 16 Jul 1958  Johan Henry Eliza Ferrier          (s.a.)
16 Jul 1958 - Jun 1963     Severinus Désiré Emanuels          (b. 1910)
Jun 1963 -  5 Mar 1969     Johan Adolf Pengel                 (b. 1916 - d. 1970)  NPS
 5 Mar 1969 - 20 Nov 1969  Arthur J. May (acting)             (b. 1903)
20 Nov 1969 - 24 Dec 1973  Jules Sedney                       (b. 1922)            PNP
24 Dec 1973 - 25 Feb 1980  Henck Alphonsus Eugène Arron       (b. 1936 - d. 2000)  NC;1977 NPS
15 Mar 1980 -  4 Feb 1982  Hendrick Rudolf Chin A Sen         (s.a.)               NRP
31 Mar 1982 -  9 Dec 1982  Henry N. Neyhorst                  (b. 1940) 
 9 Dec 1982 - 26 Feb 1983  Vacant
26 Feb 1983 -  8 Jan 1984  Liakat Ali Errol Alibux            (b. 1948)            PALU
 3 Feb 1984 - 17 Jul 1986  Willem "Wim" Alfred Udenhout       (b. 1937)            Non-party
17 Jul 1986 -  7 Apr 1987  Pretaapnarian Shawh Radhecheran    (b. 1935 - d. 2001)  BVD
                             Radhakishun 
 7 Apr 1987 - 26 Jan 1988  Jules Albert Wijdenbosch           (s.a.)               NDP
Vice Presidents (chairing the Council of Ministers ex officio)
26 Jan 1988 - 24 Dec 1990  Henck Alphonsus Eugène Arron       (s.a.)               NPS
 7 Jan 1991 - 16 Sep 1991  Jules Albert Wijdenbosch           (s.a.)               NDP
16 Sep 1991 - 15 Sep 1996  Jules Rattankoemar Adjodhia        (b. 1945)            VHP
                             (1st time)
15 Sep 1996 - 12 Aug 2000  Pretaapnarian Shawh Radhecheran    (s.a.)               BVD
                             Radhakishun 
12 Aug 2000 - 12 Aug 2005  Jules Rattankoemar Ajodhia         (s.a.)               VHP
                             (2nd time)
12 Aug 2005 -              Ram Sardjoe                        (b. 1935)            VHP

Commanders of Allied Forces
Nov 1941 - 194.            Parley Parkinson (U.S.)
c.1943                     Paul L. Singer (U.S.)
194. - 1945                .... (U.S.)

Territorial Disputes: Area claimed by French Guiana between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa); Suriname claims a triangle of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana
seeks United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) arbitration to resolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters.

Party abbreviations: BVD = Basispartij voor Vernieuwing en Democratie (Basis Party for Renewal and Democracy, Hindustan); NDP = Nationale Democratische Partij (National Democratic Party, left-wing, formerly authoritarian); NF = Nieuwe Front (New Front, NPS, VHP, Suriname Labor Party, coalition party); NPS = Nationale Partij Suriname (National Party of Suriname, creole);
VHP = Vooruitstrevende Hervormingspartij (Progressive Reform Party, hindustans);
Mil = Military;
- Former parties: NC = National Coalition (PNP and NPS 1973-1977); NRP = National Republican Party; PALU = Progressieve Arbeiders en Landbouwers Partij (Progressive Worker's and Farm Laborers Party); PSPP = Progressive Surinam People's Party