The Government of Suriname - The World Countries

Suriname - Government

Based on the etymolgy of Suriname, it was name may derive from the indigenous "Surinen" people who inhabited the area at the time of European contact. The Government system in this country is the presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica

National symbols

Royal palm, faya lobi (flower); national colors: green, white, red, yellow.

The flag

The National flag of Suriname has five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); a large, yellow, five-pointed star is centered in the red band; red stands for progress and love, green symbolizes hope and fertility, white signifies peace, justice, and freedom; the star represents the unity of all ethnic groups; from its yellow light the nation draws strength to bear sacrifices patiently while working toward a golden future.

The National Anthem

Title	"God zij met ons Suriname!" (God Be With Our Suriname)
Lyric/music	Cornelis Atses HOEKSTRA and Henry DE ZIEL/Johannes Corstianus DE PUY

note: adopted 1959; originally adapted from a Sunday school song written in 1893 and contains lyrics in both Dutch and Sranang Tongo

More about the government of Suriname

Constitution
Date of Independence	25 November 1975 (from the Netherlands)
National holiday	Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Legal system	civil law system influenced by Dutch civil law; note - a new criminal code was enacted in 2017
International law organization participation	accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
History	Previous 1975; latest ratified 30 September 1987, effective 30 October 1987
Amendments	Proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership; amended 1992
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth	no
Citizenship by descent only	at least one parent must be a citizen of Suriname
Dual citizenship recognized	no
Residency requirement for naturalization	5 years
Executive Branch
Chief of state	President Chandrikapersad "Chan" SANTOKHI (since 16 July 2020)
Head of government	President Chandrikapersad "Chan" SANTOKHI (since 16 July 2020)
Cabinet	Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
Elections/appointments	president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly; president and vice president serve a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 13 July 2020 (next to be held in May 2025)
Election results	2020: Chandrikapersad "Chan" SANTOKHI elected president unopposed; National Assembly vote - NA 2015: Desire Delano BOUTERSE reelected president unopposed; National Assembly vote - NA
Legislative branch
Legislature name	National Assembly (Nationale Assemblee)
Legislative structure	Unicameral
Number of seats	51 (all directly elected)
Electoral system	Proportional representation
Scope of elections	Full renewal
Term in office	5 years
Most recent election date	5/25/2020
Parties elected and seats per party	Progressive Reform Party (VHP) (20); National Democratic Party (NDP) (16); General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP) (8); National Party of Suriname (NPS) (3); Other (4)
Percentage of women in chamber	31.4%
Expected date of next election	May 2025
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)	High Court of Justice of Suriname (consists of the court president, vice president, and 4 judges); note - appeals beyond the High Court are referred to the Caribbean Court of Justice; human rights violations can be appealed to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights with judgments issued by the Inter-American Court on Human Rights
Judge selection and term of office	Court judges appointed by the national president in consultation with the National Assembly, the State Advisory Council, and the Order of Private Attorneys; judges serve for life
Subordinate courts	Cantonal courts
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Jan Marten Willem SCHALKWIJK (since 19 April 2022)
Chancery	4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone	[1] (202) 629-4302
FAX	[1] (202) 629-4769
Email address and website	[email protected] https://surinameembassy.org/index.html
Consulate(s) general	Miami
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Robert J. FAUCHER (since 31 January 2023)
Embassy	165 Kristalstraat, Paramaribo
Mailing address	3390 Paramaribo Place, Washington DC 20521-3390
Telephone	[597] 556-700
FAX	[597] 551-524
Email address and website	[email protected] https://sr.usembassy.gov/
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites	3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales	Central Suriname Nature Reserve (n); Historic Inner City of Paramaribo (c); Jodensavanne Archaeological Site: Jodensavanne Settlement and Cassipora Creek Cemetery (c)