Getting to Know Your Island

 

Flag of Suriname

    Suriname! Suriname! Suriname! Oh how you made my mouth drop every time I read a new piece of information. Suriname (Dutch Guiana) is a part of “The Guianas” also including Guyana (British Guiana) and French Guiana. These three countries are located on the western coast of South America, just at the end of the long chain of Caribbean islands. Even though Suriname is located on South America it is still considered to be within the Caribbean region considering its placement on the coast.

    Suriname is home to majority of South Asians that live there. They make up about one fourth of the population. The Maroons is second largest population of about one-fifth of the people. Other races including Javanese and other mixed races make up the rest of the population.

    While searching for information, I came upon a human trafficking section and while it should not be shocking (not saying it should happen because it SHOULD NOT) it still did. Trafficking does not always have to be between different countries or islands but can be done internally, which according to UNODC page is the most trafficked way. Suriname partakes in ‘intra-regional’ trafficking using underage boys and girls mainly for sexual exploitation. Because of mines located inside the country, it makes trafficking ‘easier’ in ways of not really being able to collect evidence. Suriname was placed on the Tier 2 Watchlist which are “Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the TVPA’s minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards AND….”.


Suriname's offshore oil reserve

    Suriname has come upon jackpots of offshore oil reserves; enough to get the country up and running in the right direction but not knowing how to handle such a big resource can lead to more trouble. Suriname has had its trouble in terms of being able to govern and lead its people. The former President Dési Bouterse was convicted of 15 executions in 1982 and cocaine smuggling in 2000. There was also a group called the Jungle Commando who fought for the equal rights of its Maroon minority population against President Bouterse. This has become how they keep wealth within the country so yea, I wouldn’t want them to handle the oil reserve either. I get it. Hopefully the new President can help them take things in the right direction.


Chin, Henk E. and Menke, Jack K.. "Suriname". Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Oct. 2020, https://www.britannica.com/place/Suriname. Accessed 15 February 2021.

MacDonald, Scott B.. “Suriname and the need for good governance”. Global Americans, 4 Mar. 2020, https://theglobalamericans.org/2020/03/suriname-and-the-need-for-good-governance/. Accessed 15 February 2021.

UNODC. “Global Report on Trafficking in Persons”. United Nations, 

Virtual Caribbean Library. https://ggccaribbean.wpengine.com/listing/suriname-2/. Accessed 15 February 2021.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Travel to the British Virgin Islands

Image
The British Virgin Islands have been my home for 26 years and even if though I live in Georgia, the BVI is still my home. The BVI consists of 4 main islands and about 50-60 rocks and cays. The four main islands are: Jost Van Dyke, Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Anegada and each have their own thing to contribute. The beaches are my favorite but when you pair the water and a yatch you get a kaleidoscope of fun. Feeling the wind and sun across your face is the most magical feeling in the world. The atmosphere around is energetic but relaxing like all your problems are being carried off in the wind. Sailing is one the most fun filled activities within the BVI. You can sail throughout the BVI but not pass any boundaries visiting different island. Depending on how long you have rent the yatch, sailing between certain islands can take hours so plan your day accordingly. Some of my favorite beaches are Cane Garden Bay on Tortola, The Baths/Devil’s Bay on Virgin Gorda and White Bay on Jost Van Dyke
Read more

Self-Assessment

Image
My blogs do not meet all the rubric criteria. The biggest one is grammar and mechanics. Where I’m from, we speak dialect or ‘broken’ English; basically, there’s no subject-verb agreement or complete sentences. I feel that sometimes it may be portrayed in my writing. I am still trying to figure out how should I write my blogs. I know grammar is important but is it as important as writing a traditional essay. Blogging is easier going and not too uptight, but I think too much into it which may lead to me not doing the assignment.   Honestly, I am not making the best efforts with my blogs. I tend to give up when I see all the tabs of information needed to be read to create said blogs. Ha-ha. This is the one. I am the Queen of Procrastination and I am definitely not proud of that. I honestly feel that the weekends are my only time to somewhat ‘recharge’ so thinking of homework gives me a headache. I pay for it in sleep on Monday nights trying to get these blogs together. I do revise my blog
Read more

The History of Anguilla

Image
        Anguilla is located north of the Leeward Islands and begins the downward curve of the long chain of Caribbean islands. The Amerindians or specifically the Arawaks were the first inhabitants to settle on the island around 2000 BC. The island of Anguilla was then called “Malliouhana” which meant “Sea Serpent”.      There have been some assumptions that Christopher Columbus had discovered the island in 1493 but there was no documentation of his “adventure”. It was not until 1565 French Explorer Pierre Laudonnaire gave Anguilla its name “Anguille” which meant “eel shaped”. This discovery led to the decline of the Amerindians population through enslavement, introduction of diseases never heard of and mass killings.      In 1650, Anguilla was first colonized by the English located on St. Kitts but in 1656, they were killed by a group of Caribs. Anguilla along with many of the Caribbean islands were in the constant battle of power between the French, Dutch, Spanish, English etc. Unt
Read more