According to ehistorylib, in 2005, Suriname had a population of just over 500,000 people. The economy was largely dependent on the export of natural resources such as bauxite, gold, oil and timber. Foreign relations between Suriname and other countries were generally positive. In 2005, there was an agreement between Suriname and Brazil to cooperate in the development of hydroelectric power plants. The politics in Suriname were dominated by the New Front coalition which was led by Desi Bouterse. This coalition included both parties from the East and West of the country and was based on a multi-ethnic platform. The government focused on economic development, poverty reduction and improving access to education and healthcare services for its citizens. There were also plans to hold elections in 2010 which would determine the new leadership of the country. Overall, it seemed that there were promising prospects for political stability and economic growth in Suriname during this period.
Yearbook 2005
Suriname. According to countryaah, Paramaribo is the capital and one of the major cities within the country of Suriname. Ronald Venetiaan from the New Front (NF) was re-elected for a second term on August 3. He was constitutionally elected by the 895 strong United People’s Assembly, comprised of the nation’s parliaments at all levels, as he received the most votes but not an absolute majority in the presidential election and failed to achieve the required two-thirds majority in two votes in Congress. However, the Venetian parliamentary base became weak, as the congressional votes showed; already in May, the NF lost ten congressional seats and the Venetian will be forced into parliamentary alliances. In the first round of presidential elections in July, the controversial former president Desi Bouterse also stood for the National Democratic Party (NDP). He is charged with involvement in international drug smuggling and human rights crimes.
- Also see abbreviationfinder.org for how the acronym SR stands for the country of Suriname and other meanings of this two-letter abbreviation.