Nightlife in Suriname

There are several nightclubs in Paramaribo, often attached to a hotel, with live music and dancing. There are also a number of discos and several cinemas, including a drive-in.

In general, it is best to stick to the hotels unless accompanied by locals who know the reputations of other nightspots, in particular those out of the town center. The Local Events Bulletin lists all current activities and is usually available in hotels.

Climate of Suriname

Tropical and humid, cooled by the northeast trade winds. The best time to visit is February to April (short dry season) and August to October (long dry season).

The rainy seasons last from November to January and from May to July. Surinam lies outside the hurricane zone and the most extreme weather condition is the sibibusi (forest broom), a heavy rain shower.

Required clothing: Lightweights and rainwear.

Activities in Suriname

Watersports
Beaches are not of the highest standard and only a few are suitable for swimming (which is prohibited at some classified beaches within nature reserves). An unusual but popular location for swimming is Colakreek, a recreation area 50km (32 miles) south of Paramaribo consisting of numerous creeks with brown water in the small savannah belt behind the coastal plains. There are public pools in Paramaribo, Niew-Nickerie, Moengo and Groningen and most hotels have private pools. There are facilities for sailing at Jachthaven Ornamibo.

Ecotourism

Nearly 80 per cent of the country is covered with tropical rainforest, which is protected by an efficient system of national parks and protected areas. Guided trips to Raleighvallen/Voltzberg Nature Park or Natuurpark Brownsberg (Brownsberg Nature Park) can be booked in Paramaribo. Some offer accommodation in lodges. Visits to indigenous village communities can also be organized and frequently involve river tours.

One of the most popular is the five-day river tour of Kumalu and the Awarra Dam region. Wildlife enthusiasts can observe numerous mammals (including jaguars, pumas and ocelots), birds (such as flamingos and eagles), rare flowers (including orchids and ixora) as well as the black and blue morpho butterflies. Giant Leatherback sea turtles can be watched laying their eggs in the Galibi Nature Reserve (accessible by boat only). Bikes can be hired.

Tourist Attractions in Suriname

Paramaribo
The 17th-century capital is graced with attractive British, Dutch, French and Spanish colonial architecture. The nearby restored Fort Zeelandia houses the Surinam Museum. Other attractions include the 19th-century Roman Catholic cathedral (made entirely of wood - as is the 17th-century synagogue, which lies in stark contrast to the biggest mosque in the Caribbean), Independence Square, the Presidential Palace (with an attractive palm garden) and the lively waterfront and market districts. Palmentuin is a pleasant park, as is the Cultuurtuin, but the latter is a fair distance from the town.

Elsewhere
The countryside is sparsely populated, and the scenery and the tropical vegetation and wildlife provide the main attractions: mangrove swamps, rivers and rapids of all sizes, Amazonian rainforest and mountains, and jaguars, tapirs, snakes, tropical birds and giant sea turtles from the Matapica and Galibi beach reserves, as well as highly endangered species such as the cock of the rock, the harpy eagle, the giant otter and the manatee.

Food and Dining Suriname

Owing to the diverse ethnic mixture of the population, Surinam offers a good variety of dishes including American, Chinese, Creole, European, Indian and Indonesian. Indonesian dishes are recommended, usually rijsttafel with rice (boiled or fried) and a number of spicy meat and vegetable side dishes, nasi goreng (Indonesian fried rice) and bami goreng (Indonesian fried noodles).

Creole dishes include pom (ground tayer roots and poultry), pastei (chicken pie with various vegetables) and peanut soup. Indian dishes, such as roti (dough pancake) served with curried chicken and potatoes, and Chinese dishes, such as chow-mein and chop suey, are excellent. Moksi meti (various meats served on rice) is a local favorite.

Local drinks include the Indonesian Dawet (a coconut drink), Gemberbier (Creole ginger drink) and Pilsener Parbo Bier. There are some restaurants in Niew-Nickerie and Paramaribo, but they tend to be scarce outside the capital.

Nightlife
There are several nightclubs in Paramaribo, often attached to a hotel, with live music and dancing. There are also a number of discos and several cinemas, including a drive-in. In general, it is best to stick to the hotels unless accompanied by locals who know the reputations of other nightspots, in particular those out of the town center. The Local Events Bulletin lists all current activities and is usually available in hotels.

Shopping in Suriname

Popular items include Maroon tribal woodcarvings, hand-carved and hand-painted trays and gourds, Amerindian bows and arrows, cotton hammocks, wicker and ceramic objects, gold and silver jewelry, Javanese bamboo and batik, as well as tobacco and liquor products. Chinese shops sell imported jade, silks, glass, dolls, needlework and wall decorations.

Shopping hours
Mon-Fri 0730-1630, Sat 0730-1300.

Currency Information:

Currency
Surinam Dollar (SRD) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of SRD100, 50, 20, 10 and5

Coins are in denominations of 250, 100, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents.

Note: On 1 January 2004, the Surinam Dollar replaced the Surinam Guilder as the new monetary system. The new currency will enable the Central Bank to re-value the present gulden system to a ratio of 1000 guldens per 1 Surinam Dollar, and not have to differentiate between old and new guldens. The existing gulden coins will not have to be re-issued but will maintain their value and be incorporated into the new system. Surinam Dollars are tied to US Dollars. Old Surinamese bank notes can only be exchanged at the Central Bank.

Early indications show the following exchange rates for the Surinam Dollar against Sterling and the US Dollar:

(Feb ‘04): £1= SRDUSD 4.98; USD 1= SRDUSD 2.74. (May ‘04): £1 =SRDUSD 4.88; USD 1= SRDUSD 2.73
(Formerly, the monetary system in Surinam was: Surinam Guilder (SG) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of SG25,000, 10,000, 5000, 2000, 1000, 100, 25, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of 25, 10 and 5 cents.)

Currency exchange
Surinam Dollars are the only legal tender; since the introduction of the new monetary system from the former gulden system, gulden coins are still in circulation, however they have been re-valued to a ratio of 1000 guldens per 1 Surinam Dollar. The Central Bank is authorized to exchange money.

Credit and debit cards
American Express and MasterCard are the most widely accepted credit cards; Diners Club has limited acceptance. Check with your credit or debit card company for merchant acceptability and other facilities which may be available.

Travelers cheques
Must be changed at banks. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take travelers cheques in Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.

Currency restrictions
The import of foreign and local currency is unlimited, provided amounts in excess of USUSD 10,000 are declared on arrival. On departure, the imported foreign currency can be exported again, up to the amount declared on arrival. The export of local currency is limited to SRDUSD 1000.

Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Surinam Guilder against Sterling and the US Dollar

Banking hours
Mon-Fri 0730-1400.

Paramaribo-Suriname

Paramaribo (nicknamed Par ‘ bo) is the capital of Suriname, located in the Paramaribo district, with a population of roughly 250,000 people. It lies on the Suriname River, approximately 15 km inland from the Atlantic Ocean. Paramaribo is located at 5°52′ North, 55°10′ West (5.8667, -55.1667).

History

The area was settled by the British in 1630, and in 1650 the city became the capital of the new English colony. The area changed hands often between the British and Dutch but was under Dutch rule from 1815 until the independence of Suriname in 1975. The citizens are chiefly of Asian Indian, indigenous, African, and Dutch descent.

In January 1821 a fire in the city centre destroyed over 400 houses and other buildings. A second fire in September 1832 destroyed another 46 houses on the western part of the Waterkant.

Economy

The city’s major exports are bauxite, sugar cane, rice, cacao, coffee, rum, and tropical woods. Cement, paint, and beer are all manufactured in the city.

Culture

Paramaribo is famed for its diverse ethnic makeup, including Indians, Creoles, Maroons, Indonesians, Amerindians, Chinese and Europeans.

On Sundays and holidays there is a popular birdsong competition. Black twa-twas are the most common birds used.

Points of interest

Paramaribo is centred around the Onafhankelijksplein (Independence Square), which contains both the Presidential Palace and the National Assembly. Immediately the square is Palmentuin Park. Other notable places are the Surinaams museum, Numismatisch Museum, Fort Zeelandia (dating from the 17th century, a market and canals that are reminiscent of the Netherlands. There is a wide variety of Dutch colonial buildings in the city.

There is a wide variety of religious buildings in the city owing its ethnic diversity. There are two synagogues, a mosque, two mandirs, a Dutch Reformed church and a Roman Catholic cathedral (Roman Catholic St Peter and St Paul Cathedral) built in 1885 of wood. It is thought to be the largest wooden building in the Americas, however it is currently closed for repairs and restoration.

There are many hotels in the city, the main one being the Torarica Hotel, which also has a casino and is generally regarded as the best and largest hotel in Suriname. Others include the Ambassador, Combi Inn, De Luifel, Eco-Resort, Fanna Guesthouse, Guesthouse Amice, Hotel Savoie, Krasnapolsky, Lisa’s Guesthouse, Solana Guesthouse and YMCA Guesthouse.

Travel

Paramaribo is served by the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport and the Zorg-en-Hoop for local flights.

Music of Suriname

Suriname is a South American country, a former colony of the Netherlands with strong ties to that country. The country is well-known for kaseko music, and for having an Indo-Caribbean tradition.

Kaseko

Kaseko is probably derived from the expression casser le corps (break the body), which was used during slavery to indicate a very swift dance. Kaseko is a fusion of numerous popular and folk styles derived from Europe, Africa and the Americas.

It is rhythmically complex, with percussion instruments including skratji (a very large drum) and snare drums, as well as saxophone, trumpet and occasionally trombone. Singing can be both solo and choir. Songs are typically call-and-response, as are Creole folk styles from the area, such as winti and kawina.

Kaseko evolved in the 1930s during festivities that used large bands, especially brass bands, and was called Bigi Pokoe (big drum music). Following World War 2, jazz, calypso and other importations became popular, while rock and roll from the United States soon left its own influence in the form of electrified instruments.

Indo-Surinamese music

Indian music arrived with immigrants from South Asia. This originally included folk music played with dhantal, tabla, sitar, harmonium and dholak, later including tassa drums. Music was mostly Hindu songs called bhajans, as well as filmi. The tan singing style is unique to the Indian community in Suriname and Guyana.

Cities in Suriname

Albina
Allianc
Anapaike
Apetina
Apoera
Aurora
Bakhuis
Batavia
Benzdorp
Bitagron
Boskamp
Boto-Pasi
Brokopondo
Broskamp
Brownsweg
Corneliskondre
Cottica
Djoemoe
Friendship
Goddo
Groningen
Jenny
Kajana
Kamp 52
Kwakeogron
Kwamalasamutu
Lelydorp
Moengo
Nieuw Amsterdam
Nieuw Jacobkondre
Nieuw Nickerie
Onverwacht
Paramaribo
Paranam
Pelelu Tepu
Pokigron
Pontoetoe
Sabana
Totness
Wageningen
Wanhatti
Washoda
Zanderij

Foreign relations of Suriname

Suriname claims an area in French Guiana between Litani River and Marouini River (both headwaters of the Lawa). Suriname also claims an area in Guyana between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Koetari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne) There has also been international tension due to Suriname’s status as a transshipment point for South American drugs destined mostly for Europe.

Since gaining independence, Suriname has become a member of the United Nations, the OAS, and the Non-Aligned Movement. Suriname is a member of the Caribbean Community and Common Market and the Association of Caribbean States; it is associated with the European Union through the Lome Convention. Suriname participates in the Amazonian Pact, a grouping of the countries of the Amazon Basin that focuses on protection of the Amazon region’s natural resources from environmental degradation.

Reflecting its status as a major bauxite producer, Suriname is also a member of the International Bauxite Association. The country also belongs to the Economic Commission for Latin America, the Inter-American Development Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. Suriname became a member of the Islamic Development Bank in 1998, under the Wijdenbosch government.

Bilateral agreements with several countries of the region, covering diverse areas of cooperation, have underscored the government’s interest in strengthening regional ties. The return to Suriname from French Guiana of about 8,000 refugees of the 1986-91 civil war between the military and domestic insurgents has improved relations with French authorities. Longstanding border disputes with Guyana and French Guiana remain unresolved.

Negotiations with the Government of Guyana brokered by the Jamaican Prime Minister in 2000 did not produce an agreement, but the countries agreed to restart talks after Guyanese national elections in 2001. In January 2002 the presidents of Suriname and Guyana met in Suriname and agreed to resume negotiations, establishing the Suriname-Guyana border commission to begin meeting in May 2002. An earlier dispute with Brazil ended amicably after formal demarcation of the border.

In May 1997, then-President Wijdenbosch joined President Clinton and 14 other Caribbean leaders during the first-ever U.S.-regional summit in Bridgetown, Barbados. The summit strengthened the basis for regional cooperation on justice and counter narcotics issues, finance and development, and trade.

In June 2, 2000 CGX Energy Inc, a Canadian oil exploration firm, was carrying out seismic survey procedures in Guyanese waters which Suriname states lie within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). In reaction, Suriname sent military gunboats to the zone. As a result, the two nations nearly went to war over the offshore oil fields - which according to the US Geological Survey rank among the largest untapped oil and gas reserves in the world, estimated at up to 15 billion barrels of oil.

Despite the intervention of the 15-nation Caribbean community (CARICOM), the two nations have failed to settle the dispute. Since the conflict erupted in 2000, Suriname not only forbade CGX to explore in the disputed area but also prohibited Guyanese fishermen to enter what Suriname states are its territorial waters. In the case before the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS), Guyana has also asked for provisional measures to explore and fish in these waters again.
In 2003, Suriname joined the Nederlandse Taalunie (Dutch Language union).

International organization participation: ACP, Caricom, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO