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.

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