y spoken, Sranan Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes
called Taki-Taki) is native language of Creoles and much of the younger
population and is lingua franca among others, Hindi Suriname Hindustani (a
variant of Bhoqpuri), Javanese
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
95%
male:
95%
female:
95%
Labor force:
104,000 (1984)
by occupation:
NA

*Suriname, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Suriname
conventional short form:
Suriname
local long form:
Republiek Suriname
local short form:
Suriname
former:
Netherlands Guiana Dutch Guiana
Digraph:
NS
Type:
republic
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)
Constitution:
ratified 30 September 1987
Legal system:
NA
National holiday:
Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Political parties and leaders:
The New Front (NF), leader NA, a coalition of four parties (NPS, VHP, KTPI,
SPA); Progressive Reform Party (VHP), Jaggernath LACHMON; National Party of
Suriname (NPS), Ronald VENETIAAN; Party of National Unity and Solidarity
(KTPI), Willy SOEMITA; Suriname Labor Party (SPA) Fred DARBY; Democratic
Alternative '91 (DA '91), Winston JESSURUN, a coalition of four parties (AF,
HPP, Pendawa Lima, BEP) formed in January 1991; Alternative Forum (AF),
Gerard BRUNINGS, Winston JESSURUN; Reformed Progressive Party (HPP), Panalal
PARMESSAR; Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics (BEP), Cipriano
ALLENDY; Pendawa Lima, Marsha JAMIN; National Democratic Party (NDP), Desire
BOUTERSE; Progressive Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union (PALU), Ir Iwan
KROLIS, chairman; National Republic Party (PNR), Robin RAVALES
Other political or pressure groups:
Surinamese Liberation Army (SLA), Ronnie BRUNSWIJK, Johan "Castro" WALLY;
Union for Liberation and Democracy, Kofi AFONGPONG; Saramaccaner Bosneger
Angula Movement, Carlos MAASSI; Mandela Bushnegro Liberation Movement,
Leendert ADAMS; Tucayana Amazonica, Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJO
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held 6 September 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results - elected
by the National Assembly - Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) 80% (645 votes), Jules
WIJ