Greetings! We recently returned from a trip to Suriname (soo-ree-NAH-muh; country #102), where we were able to experience the capital city of Paramaribo (pah-rah-MAH-rih-boh) and surrounding areas. Below, you will find information and photos from our trip.
(named after the president who had it built;
allows people to drive from east to west without having to use a ferry)
Suriname is a small country in South America, bordered by Guyana to the west (with whom it has been involved in territorial disputes), French Guiana to the east (with whom it has been involved in territorial disputes), Brazil to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the north.
Suriname was first explored by the French and Spaniards in the 16th century, and then settled by the British in the mid-17th century, making it a British territory. Around the same time, a small group of Jewish people came to the area to escape religious persecution (there are now fewer than 100 individuals practicing Judaism in Suriname, though there are 3000 people who are direct descendants of this small group of Jews – they do not practice Judaism because they have mixed with other cultures, but the surnames have survived). Suriname was subsequently settled as a colony by the Dutch in 1667 after the second Dutch-English war, becoming Dutch Guiana (at the same time, New Amsterdam [now New York] became a British territory). Dutch is the official language of Suriname, but there is a native language (Sranang Tongo) that used to be spoken on plantations between masters and slaves, and continues to be spoken amongst the people.
The German cargo ship (above) came to Suriname at the start of World War II, as this was Dutch territory and the Dutch were not yet part of the war, so, this was friendly territory. The Germans were trying to fix the boat and were also trying to avoid going back to Europe. Once the Dutch joined the war, there were orders to arrest all Germans, and the ship was sunk.
Statue that represents the abolition of slavery
When the British were in control, they brought slaves to Suriname, but the slaves ran away to the hills and established their own tribes. They were considered their own ethnic group (called Maroon), who distinguished themselves from the “City Blacks.” In 1845, slavery still existed, but there were white people who came to Suriname who did not want to own plantations. Half of them ended up dying from illness. A small group of people living in Suriname are descendants from this group. In 1853, slavery was discontinued, but for ten years, ex-slaves had to work for a salary. Chinese men (and later [1873], women and children from China and India) were brought to Suriname to do physical work, and in 1898, people from Indonesia (primarily from Java) were brought to Suriname. This was the last group to come from Asia to work on plantations; People from Guyana, Haiti, and Cuba were subsequently brought to Suriname for that purpose. Today, the largest ethnic group in Suriname is South Asians (descendants of the laborers from India), followed by the Maroons (descendants of escaped slaves, who were of African origin), Creoles (who are mainly of African descent), and Javanese descendants.
Interesting detail: In this timeframe, Indonesia was ruled by the Dutch, and they appealed to Indonesians to come and work on the plantations to build up the economy in then-Dutch Guiana.
(monument/memorial to victims massacred in a village in 1986; the symbol at the top means “protect us” in the native language)
Suriname was offered independence from the Dutch in 1975, and they became independent on November 25, 1975. There was a full-blown war (“military coup”) from 1986 to 1992 because the Amerindians were tired to the military coming in and taking what they wanted from the villages. People from the interior of Suriname fled to French Guiana (the river border of which is about 2 hours from Paramaribo), and a village was massacred (there are multiple stories about what transpired before the massacre to end in such tragedy). When the new government was established, they pardoned everything having to do with the war to keep the peace (amnesty), including the massacre. The president was found guilty of coordinating the massacre, but was not arrested because the judge said not to arrest him, and the president went into hiding. The people reportedly loved the president because he did so much for Suriname. All of the information about the coup and massacre was put in two places: a bank vault (which disappeared) and in Holland, not to be opened for 60 years, by which point they expect everyone will have died.
(built in the 1700s; it is no longer the actual residence for the president, who lives in his own house)
This is a parachuter who is carrying the Suriname flag.
(former president of Suriname; longest-serving member of Parliament)
In 1760, the government made the Maroon people free, a full 100 years before slavery was abolished, because they were having a hard time capturing runaway slaves. There are four Maroon tribes, a fifth that fled to French Guiana, and a sixth that no longer exists. The diversity and multiculturalism in Suriname has been represented in multiple ways, including among their presidents, and within their religious worship.
Suriname participated in several wars, including World War II and the Korean War.
The food in Suriname also reflects the multiculturalism of the community. You can find cuisines reflecting Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, European (e.g., Mediterranean), and Creole cultures.
The rivers of Suriname are home to Pink Belly Dolphins, and you can take a local river boat to the area to see them. The population of Suriname is approximately 647,000, and most of the people live by the water, including along the banks in the area where the dolphins are often observed. Everyone who is a native of Suriname is entitled to a piece of land (any land that “is not real estated”) to live on, which they can apply for and can get if they meet the requirements.
Suriname is the second least visited country in South America (after Guyana), but is beautiful with regard to culture, people, food, and nature (it is the most forested country in the world, and its rainforest is one of the largest protected rainforests in the world, becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000). Suriname is definitely a place that I would recommend you put on your list to visit. Until next time, take care and be well…