Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan
President

(pronounced "roo-NAHL-doh RAH-nuhld ven-aye-ti-AHN")

"My election has allowed me to seek a solution in a peaceful manner… These difficulties will have to be overcome and the problems solved."

The Republic of Suriname (pronounced "suh-ri-NAM-uh," but also pronounced in English without the last syllable) is situated on the north central coast of South America and covers an area of 163,270 sq km (63,039 sq mi). More than 95% of the country's area was once covered by tropical forest, and efforts to preserve it have resulted in a loss of less than 10% to development. To the north lies the Atlantic Ocean, to the east French Guiana, to the south Brazil, and to the west Guyana. The population was estimated at 436,494 in 2002. More than 90% of the population is settled in the northern coastal region, the site of extensive plantation agriculture in the...