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Suriname
Key facts
Date of Membership in CARICOM: 4 Jul 1995
Also Known as:Beating Heart of the Amazon Status of Independence:Independent 1975/11/25
Area: 163,820 km2 (63,251 miles2)
Capital City: Paramaribo
Population: 517,052 (2008)
Currency: Suriname Dollar (SRD)
Highest National Award: Drager van het Groot Lint in de Ere Orde van de Palm
Economy
GDP Growth: 2.9% annual change (2013)
GNI: 8.606 billion PPP dollars
GNI PC: US$ 9,370 as of 2013
Key dates in history
1499 Country originally known by Amerindian name Surinam (after original inhabitants, the Surinas) sighted by Spanish explorer, Alonso de Ojeada
1651 First European settlement established by Britain
1667 Acquired by The Netherlands; became known as Dutch Guiana
1728 First Bush Negro Community established by runaway slaves
1761 Peace Treaty between The Netherlands and Bush Negroes following prolonged war
1815 Complete control regained by The Netherlands following numerous exchanges among Britain, France and The Netherlands
1954 Autonomy granted within the Kingdom of The Netherlands
1975 Country became an Independent Republic, name changed to Suriname, Dr. Johan Ferrier, first President
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H.E. Jennifer Geerlings-Simons
Community Development and Cultural Cooperation (including Culture, Gender, Youth and Sport), Industrial Policy