Suriname

First explored by the Spaniards in the 16th century and then settled by the English in the mid-17th century, Suriname became a Dutch colony in 1667. With the abolition of slavery in 1863, workers were brought in from India and Java. Independence from the Netherlands was granted in 1975. Five years later the civilian government was replaced by a military regime that soon declared a socialist republic. It continued to exert control through a succession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when international pressure finally forced a democratic election. In 1990, the military overthrew the civilian leadership, but a democratically elected government - a four-party New Front coalition - returned to power in 1991 and has ruled since; the coalition expanded to eight parties in 2005.

Economical characteristics

 * Currency: Surinamese dollar (ISO code: SRD)
 * Central bank discount rate:
 * Commercial banks lending rate: 12.23% (31 December 2008)
 * Stock of money (M1): $484.7 million (31 December 2008)
 * Quasi money (with M1 makes M2): $1.018 billion (31 December 2008)

Links

 * Suriname on Wikipedia
 * Central bank of Suriname
 * BBC country profile