History of Suriname in Timeline
Suriname, a republic in northern South America, boasts extensive rainforests covering over 90% of its land, making it a global leader in forest coverage. Located near the equator and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, French Guiana, Guyana, and Brazil, it stands as the smallest South American nation in terms of both population (around 612,985) and area (approximately 163,820 square kilometers). Paramaribo, the capital, is the largest city and accommodates about half of the population.
November 1941: US Troops Sent to Suriname
On November 23, 1941, during World War II, the United States sent 2,000 soldiers to Suriname to protect bauxite mines, under an agreement with the Netherlands government-in-exile.
1942: Review of Post-War Relations
In 1942, the Dutch government-in-exile began reviewing its post-war relationship with its colonies.
1954: Constituent Country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
In 1954, Suriname became a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, along with the Netherlands Antilles and the Netherlands.
1965: Nike Apache rocket launches from Coronie
The Dutch and American governments utilized Suriname's Coronie site for numerous Nike Apache sounding rocket launches in 1965.
1974: Negotiations for Full Independence
In 1974, the local government, led by the National Party of Suriname (NPS), started negotiations with the Dutch government leading towards full independence.
November 1975: Independence of Suriname
On November 1975, Suriname gained independence following negotiations with the Dutch government, after being a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands since 1954.
1975: Suriname's Independence and Subsequent Emigration of "Boeroes"
Following Suriname's independence in 1975, a significant number of "Boeroes," descendants of 19th-century Dutch farmers, opted to leave the country.
1975: Establishment of the Surinaamse Krijgsmacht
Following Suriname's independence in 1975, the Troepenmacht in Suriname (TRIS) was transformed into the Surinaamse Krijgsmacht (SKM), which served as the country's armed forces.
1975: Mass Migration to the Netherlands Surrounding Independence
The years surrounding Suriname's independence in 1975 saw a mass migration of people to the Netherlands, driven by the choice between Surinamese or Dutch citizenship. This trend continued post-independence, fueled further by political instability in the 1980s and economic factors throughout the 1990s.
1977: Accusations of Fraud and Emigration
In 1977, the NPS, led by Arron, was accused of fraud in the elections. Dissatisfaction was so high that many Surinamese people emigrated to the Netherlands.
January 1978: Name Change to "Suriname"
In January 1978, the official English spelling of the country's name was changed from "Surinam" to "Suriname".
February 1980: Military Coup
On February 25, 1980, a military coup led by Dési Bouterse overthrew Arron's government.
April 1980: First Counter-Coup Attempt
In April 1980, the first counter-coup attempt against the military regime, led by Fred Ormskerk, took place.
August 1980: Second Counter-Coup Attempt
In August 1980, the second counter-coup attempt, led by Marxist-Leninists, took place against the military regime.
1980: Renaming of the Surinaamse Krijgsmacht
After the government coup in 1980, the Surinaamse Krijgsmacht (SKM) was renamed to Nationaal Leger (NL), or the National Army.
March 1981: Third Counter-Coup Attempt
On March 15, 1981, the third counter-coup attempt, led by Wilfred Hawker, took place against the military regime.
March 1982: Fourth Counter-Coup Attempt
On March 12, 1982, the fourth counter-coup attempt, led by Surendre Rambocus, took place against the military regime.
December 1982: December Murders
Between December 7th and 10th, 1982, the military, under Bouterse's leadership, rounded up and executed 15 prominent citizens who had criticized the military dictatorship.
1982: December Murders
In 1982, Bouterse, along with 24 others, was charged with the murders of 15 prominent dissidents in the December murders.
1986: Civil War Begins
In 1986, a brutal civil war began between the Suriname army and Maroons loyal to rebel leader Ronnie Brunswijk.
1987: New Constitution and Elections
National elections were held in 1987, and the National Assembly adopted a new constitution that allowed Bouterse to remain in charge of the army.
1987: New Constitution
The 1987 Constitution established Suriname as a representative democratic republic.
1988: Suriname Wins First Olympic Gold
At the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Anthony Nesty won gold in the 100-meter butterfly, marking Suriname's first-ever Olympic medal.
1988: Anthony Nesty's Olympic Gold Medal
Surinamese swimmer Anthony Nesty secured a gold medal in the 100-meter butterfly at the 1988 Summer Olympics held in Seoul.
1990: Health Statistics in Suriname (1990)
In 1990, Suriname recorded a death rate of 960 per 100,000 people. The leading causes of death were cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes/chronic kidney disease. The death rate for children under 5 was 581 per 100,000.
1990: Telephone Coup
In 1990, dissatisfied with the government, Bouterse summarily dismissed the ministers by telephone, an event that became known as the "Telephone Coup".
1991: Bouterse's Power Wanes
Bouterse's power began to wane after the 1991 elections.
1991: Tommy Asinga's Bronze Medal at Pan American Games
Surinamese athlete Tommy Asinga achieved recognition by winning a bronze medal in the 800 meters at the 1991 Pan American Games.
1991: Start of positive US-Suriname relations
The United States and Suriname have maintained a positive relationship since 1991.
1992: Anthony Nesty's Olympic Bronze Medal
Anthony Nesty added an Olympic bronze medal to his accolades in the 100-meter butterfly at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
1992: Suriname joins Forum of Small States
Suriname became a member of the Forum of Small States (FOSS) upon the organization's inception in 1992.
1995: Letitia Vriesde's Historic Silver Medal
Letitia Vriesde etched her name in history by winning a silver medal in the 800 meters at the 1995 World Championships, becoming the first South American female athlete to achieve a podium finish in the competition.
1996: Construction Begins on Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge
Construction of the Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge began in 1996 during the presidency of Jules Albert Wijdenbosch.
1996: Wijdenbosch government discontinues structural adjustment program
In the latter part of 1996, the Wijdenbosch administration terminated the structural adjustment program implemented by the preceding government, citing its unfair impact on the less affluent segments of society.
1997: Freezing of Dutch development funds
By the close of 1997, the allocation of new development funds from the Netherlands to Suriname was put on hold due to strained relations between the two countries.
1998: Economic slowdown in Suriname
Suriname experienced an economic slowdown in 1998, particularly in the mining, construction, and utility sectors.
1998: Establishment of the Central Suriname Nature Reserve
The Central Suriname Nature Reserve was established in 1998, demonstrating Suriname's commitment to environmental protection.
1999: Fiscal deficit in Suriname
Factors such as excessive government spending, inadequate tax collection, an inflated civil service, and a reduction in foreign aid in 1999 contributed to a fiscal deficit estimated at 11% of Suriname's GDP.
1999: Humphrey Mijnals: Surinamese Footballer of the Century
Humphrey Mijnals, who represented both Suriname and the Netherlands in football, was honored as Surinamese footballer of the century in 1999.
1999: Du00e9si Bouterse convicted of drug trafficking
In 1999, Du00e9si Bouterse was found guilty of drug trafficking and sentenced to 11 years in prison by a Dutch court. This verdict was handed down in absentia.
1999: Protests and Bouterse Trial
The first half of 1999 was marked by national protests against poor economic and social conditions. Mid-year, the Netherlands tried and convicted Bouterse in absentia on drug-smuggling charges.
2000: Central Suriname Nature Reserve obtains World Heritage Site status
The Central Suriname Nature Reserve was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2000.
2000: Completion of Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge
The Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge, connecting Paramaribo to Meerzorg in the Commewijne district, was completed in 2000. This bridge, standing at 52 meters high and 1,504 meters long, significantly improved transportation by replacing the previous ferry system and aimed to stimulate development in eastern Suriname.
2001: Letitia Vriesde's Bronze Medal at World Championships
Letitia Vriesde earned another World Championships medal in 2001, securing bronze in the 800 meters.
2001: Inauguration of Arya Diwaker Temple
The Hindu Arya Diwaker temple in Paramaribo, Suriname, was inaugurated in 2001. Notably, the temple features no images of Hindu deities, adhering to the principles of the Arya Samaj. Its unique architecture, adorned with texts from Hindu scriptures, makes it a significant cultural and tourist attraction.
2003: Road Infrastructure in Suriname
In 2003, Suriname had a total of 4303 km of roads, with 1119 km being paved. This information highlights the state of road infrastructure in Suriname at that time.
2004: Suriname Joins Dutch Language Union
In 2004, Suriname became an associate member of the Dutch Language Union.
2004: Education in Suriname
In 2004, Suriname had a net primary enrollment rate of 94%, indicating a high level of access to education. Education was compulsory until the age of 12, and literacy rates were particularly high among men.
February 2005: Barbados-Suriname cooperation agreement
In February 2005, the leaders of Barbados and Suriname signed an agreement to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
September 2007: Arbitration of maritime boundary with Guyana
In September 2007, a portion of the contested maritime boundary between Suriname and Guyana was settled through arbitration by the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
2008: Opening of Berg en Dal Eco & Cultural Resort
The Berg en Dal Eco & Cultural Resort, located in Brokopondo, Suriname, officially opened in 2008. This marked a significant development in ecotourism in the region.
April 2009: Joint Commission for Barbados-Suriname relations
Barbados and Suriname established a Joint Commission in April 2009 to enhance relations and expand cooperation.
2009: Recognition of "Surinamese Dutch"
The publication of the Woordenboek Surinaams Nederlands (Surinamese–Dutch Dictionary) in 2009 marked the recognition of "Surinaams-Nederlands" ("Surinamese Dutch") as a national dialect on par with "Nederlands-Nederlands" ("Dutch Dutch") and "Vlaams-Nederlands" ("Flemish Dutch").
May 2010: Megacombinatie Wins Election
In the May 25, 2010 elections, the Megacombinatie won 23 seats in the National Assembly, followed by Nationale Front with 20 seats.
July 2010: Bouterse Elected President
On July 19, 2010, Dési Bouterse was elected as the president of Suriname.
2010: Bouterse's presidency
Du00e9si Bouterse served as the president of Suriname from 2010 to 2020.
March 2011: Second meeting of Barbados-Suriname Joint Commission
The second meeting of the Barbados-Suriname Joint Commission took place in March 2011 to discuss agriculture, trade, investment, and international transport.
2012: Pew Research on Religious Communities
According to Pew research conducted in 2012, Christians constituted the largest religious group in Suriname, representing slightly over half of the population (51.6%).
2012: Virgil Soeroredjo Represents Suriname at London Olympics
Badminton player Virgil Soeroredjo became the second Surinamese badminton player to compete in the Summer Olympics, representing his country at the 2012 London Games.
2012: Amnesty Granted
In 2012, the National Assembly extended its amnesty law, granting Bouterse and others amnesty for the 1982 December murders charges.
2012: Population Census
The 2012 census of Suriname recorded a population of 541,638 individuals.
2012: Religious Makeup of Suriname
The 2012 census provided data on Suriname's religious composition.
March 2013: Approval of Suriname's REDD+ Readiness Preparation Proposal
The member nations of the Participants Committee of the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) granted their approval to Suriname's REDD+ Readiness Preparation Proposal (R-PP 2013) in March 2013.
October 2013: Scientific expedition in Suriname discovers potential new species
In October 2013, an international team of scientists on a three-week expedition in Suriname's Upper Palumeu River Watershed documented 1,378 species. Among these, 60 species, including six frog species, one snake species, and eleven fish species, were potentially unidentified prior to this research.
2013: Surinamese Community in the Netherlands
By 2013, the Surinamese community in the Netherlands had grown to 350,300, encompassing both those who migrated and their descendants born in the Netherlands.
June 2014: Suriname Cricket Team Ranking
As of June 2014, the Surinamese national cricket team held the 47th position globally and sixth in the ICC Americas region.
July 2014: Netherlands drops Suriname from development program
In July 2014, the Netherlands removed Suriname from its development assistance program.
2014: Suriname becomes carbon negative
Due to its extensive forest cover, Suriname transitioned to a carbon negative economy in 2014, meaning it absorbs more carbon dioxide than it emits.
March 2015: Indigenous communities' declaration for conservation corridor
In March 2015, the Trio and Wayana communities in Suriname presented a declaration of cooperation to the National Assembly. This declaration proposed an indigenous conservation corridor encompassing 72,000 square kilometers in southern Suriname.
May 2015: Bouterse Elected President
Following the elections held on May 25, 2015, the National Assembly re-elected Dési Bouterse as president.
July 2015: Bouterse Re-elected
On July 14, 2015, Dési Bouterse was re-elected as the president of Suriname.
2016: Sören Opti Competes in Rio Olympics
Sören Opti became the third Surinamese badminton player to participate in the Summer Olympics, representing Suriname at the 2016 Rio Games.
2016: Establishment of Sports Hall of Fame Suriname
The year 2016 saw the inauguration of the Sports Hall of Fame Suriname, housed within the Suriname Olympic Committee building and dedicated to celebrating the achievements of Surinamese athletes.
2016: Dominance of bauxite industry in Suriname's economy
Until 2016, the bauxite industry played a significant role in Suriname's economy, contributing to over 15% of its GDP and 70% of its export earnings.
2017: Health Statistics in Suriname (2017)
By 2017, the age-standardized death rate in Suriname had decreased to 793 per 100,000 people, with life expectancy at 72 years. Cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes/chronic kidney disease remained the leading causes of death. The death rate for children under 5 had significantly reduced to 581 per 100,000.
2018: Press Freedom in Suriname
Between 2018 and 2021, Suriname maintained a relatively high ranking on the Press Freedom Index, consistently placing around 20th.
2018: U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory for Suriname
In 2018, the U.S. Department of State issued a Level 1 Travel Advisory for Suriname, advising travelers to exercise normal precautions. Despite rising crime rates and the occurrence of armed robberies in Paramaribo, the overall risk assessment remained low.
November 2019: Bouterse Convicted
On November 29, 2019, a Surinamese court convicted Bouterse and sentenced him to 20 years for his role in the 1982 December murders.
2019: Suriname's Forest Landscape Integrity Index score
In 2019, Suriname achieved a mean score of 9.39 out of 10 on the Forest Landscape Integrity Index, securing the fifth position globally.
2020: Santokhi Elected President
After winning the 2020 elections, Chan Santokhi was elected president of Suriname by acclamation in an uncontested election.
2020: Eid-ul-adha Declared a National Holiday
As of 2020, Eid-ul-adha became a nationally recognized holiday in Suriname, holding equal status to a Sunday.
2020: End of Bouterse's presidency
Du00e9si Bouterse's term as president of Suriname ended in 2020.
2020: Census Data on Religious Affiliation
The 2020 census indicated that 52.3% of Suriname's population identified as Christian.
2021: Press Freedom in Suriname
Between 2018 and 2021, Suriname maintained a relatively high ranking on the Press Freedom Index, consistently placing around 20th.
2022: Press Freedom in Suriname
In 2022, Suriname experienced a significant decline in its ranking on the Press Freedom Index, dropping to 52nd place from its previous position around 20th.
2022: Population Estimate
In 2022, the United Nations estimated Suriname's population to be approximately 618,040.
February 2023: Protests Against Rising Living Costs
In February 2023, heavy protests erupted in Paramaribo against rising living costs, with protesters accusing President Santokhi's government of corruption and demanding its resignation.
