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Suriname Country Specific InformationSep 14, 2010 (STATE DEPARTMENT RELEASE/ContentWorks via COMTEX) -- September 14, 2010 COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: The Republic of Suriname is a developing country located on the northern coast of South America. Tourist facilities are available in the capital city of Paramaribo, but are less developed and in some cases non-existent in the country's rugged jungle interior. Dutch is the national language, but most Surinamese in Paramaribo speak English; accordingly, most tourist arrangements can be made in English. Tourist arrangements for the interior should be made before going there. Read the Department of State's Background Notes on Suriname for additional information. REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION: If you are going to live in or visit Suriname, please take the time to tell our Embassy or Consulate about your trip. If you check in, we can keep you up to date with important safety and security announcements. It will also help your friends and family get in touch with you in an emergency. Here's the link to the Department of State's travel registration page http://travelregistration.state.gov/. Local embassy information is available below and at the Department of State's list of embassies and consulates. U.S. Embassy Paramaribo, Drs. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo, Suriname Telephone: (597)-472900 Emergency after-hours telephone: (597)-0710-1112 Facsimile: (597)-425788 ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A passport, valid visa, and if traveling by air, return ticket are required for travel to Suriname. Visas must be obtained prior to arrival in Suriname. A business visa requires a letter from the sponsoring company detailing the reason for the visit. An airport departure charge and a terminal fee are normally included in the price of airfare. Travelers arriving from Guyana, French Guiana, and Brazil are required to show proof of a yellow fever vaccination. For further information, travelers can contact the Embassy of the Republic of Suriname, 4301 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 460, Washington, DC 20008, telephone (202) 244-7488/7592, or the Consulate of Suriname in Miami, 6303 Blue Lagoon Drive, Suite 325, Miami, Fl 33126, telephone (305) 265-4655/4918. Visit the Embassy of Suriname web site for the most current visa information. Important information for foreigners who have the intention of staying longer than three months: As of October 1, 2008, persons who intend to stay longer than three months must apply for an Authorization for Temporary Stay (MVK) before traveling to Suriname. The above implies that foreigners (with the exception of foreigners of Surinamese origin) who have traveled to Suriname on a tourist or business visa will not be able to apply for residence during their stay in Suriname. HIV/AIDS restriction: The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Suriname. Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page. THREATS TO SAFETY AND SECURITY: Demonstrations do occur, primarily in the capital, and are usually peaceful, but U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Suriname should take common-sense precautions and avoid large gatherings or other events where crowds have congregated to demonstrate or protest. Travelers proceeding to the interior may encounter difficulties due to limited presence of government authority. Limited transportation and communications may hamper the ability of the U.S. Embassy to assist in an emergency situation. Stay up to date by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs website, which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution. You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the U.S. and Canada, or by calling a regular toll line, 1-202-501-4444, from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). There is nobody better at protecting you than yourself. Take some time before travel to improve your personal security-things are not the same everywhere as they are in the United States. Here are some useful tips for traveling safely abroad. CRIME: Criminal activity throughout the country is on the rise and foreigners, including Americans, may be viewed as targets of opportunity. Burglary, armed robbery and violent crime occur with some frequency in Paramaribo and in outlying areas. Pick-pocketing and robbery are increasingly common in the major business and shopping districts of the capital. Visitors should avoid wearing expensive or flashy jewelry and should not display large amounts of money in public. There have been several reports of criminal incidents in the vicinity of the major tourist hotels. Night walks outside the immediate vicinity of the hotels are not recommended. Visitors should particularly avoid the Palm Garden area ("Palmentuin" in Dutch) after dark, as there is no police presence and it is commonly the site of criminal activity. Theft from vehicles is infrequent, but does occur, especially in areas near the business district. Drivers are cautioned not to leave packages and other belongings in plain view in their vehicles. There have been reports of carjackings within Paramaribo, particularly in residential areas. When driving, car windows should be closed and doors locked. The use of public minibuses is discouraged, due to widespread unsafe driving and poor maintenance. Travel to the interior is usually trouble-free, but there have been reports of tourists being robbed. Police presence outside Paramaribo is minimal, and banditry and lawlessness are occasionally of concern in the cities of Albina and Moengo, and the district of Brokopondo, as well as along the East-West Highway between Paramaribo and Albina, and the Afobakka Highway in the district of Para. There have been reports of attempted and actual carjackings committed by gangs along the East-West Highway. Travelers proceeding to the interior are advised to make use of well-established tour companies for a safer experience. Don't buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, you may be breaking local law too. VICTIMS OF CRIME: If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime abroad, you should contact the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate Department of State's list of embassies and consulates). If your passport is stolen, we can help you replace it. For violent crimes such as assault and rape, we can, for example, help you find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and help you get money from them if you need it. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime are solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed. Victims of crime in the Republic of Suriname can also contact the "Bureau Slachtofferzorg" (Victim's Assistance Office), Ministry of Justice and Police, Keizerstraat 155, Phone/Fax # (597)-424016, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The local equivalent to the "911" emergency line in Suriname is 115. Emergency operators may or may not speak English. Please see our information on victims of crime, including possible victim compensation programs in the United States. CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in another country, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don't have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. In some places driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods or engage in child pornography. While you are overseas, U.S. laws don't apply. If you do something illegal in your host country, your U.S. passport won't help. It's very important to know what's legal and what's not where you are going. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Credit cards are not widely accepted outside the major hotels and upscale restaurants. Travelers should contact their intended hotel or tour company to confirm that credit cards are accepted. Currently, only one bank, the Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (RBTT), has Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) that accept foreign ATM cards. In order to withdraw money from the ATM machines of other banks, you must have a local Surinamese bank account and ATM card. Visitors can legally exchange currency at banks, hotels, and official exchange houses, which are called "cambios." Exchanging money outside of these locations is illegal and can be dangerous. Telephone and internet service within Suriname can be problematic, especially during periods of heavy rains. MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION Medical care, including emergency medical care, is limited in many areas and does not meet U.S. standards. There is one public emergency room in Paramaribo, and only a small ambulance fleet providing emergency transport with limited first response capabilities. The emergency room has no neurosurgeon, and other medical specialists may not always be available. As a rule, hospital facilities are not air-conditioned, although private rooms with individual air-conditioning are available at extra cost and on a space-available basis. Emergency medical care outside Paramaribo is limited, and is virtually non-existent in the interior of the country. Health concerns include Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, rabies, HIV, tuberculosis, dengue, leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, and Chagas' disease. Malaria is present outside of Paramaribo. Information on vaccinations and other health precautions can be found via the CDC website. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the infectious diseases section of the World Health Organization (WHO) website. The WHO website also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information. MEDICAL INSURANCE: You can't assume your insurance will go with you when you travel. It's very important to find out BEFORE you leave. You need to ask your insurance company two questions: . Does my policy apply when I'm out of the U.S." . Will it cover emergencies like a trip to a foreign hospital or an evacuation? In many places, doctors and hospitals still expect payment in cash at the time of service. Your regular U.S. health insurance may not cover doctors' and hospital visits in other countries. If your policy doesn't go with you when you travel, it's a very good idea to take out another one for your trip. For more information, please see our medical. TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. Traffic moves on the left in Suriname; left-hand-drive (U.S. style) vehicles are also allowed on the road. Excessive speed, unpredictable driving habits by drivers of both the vehicles and motorcycles/bicycles, unusual right of way patterns, poorly maintained roads, and a lack of basic safety equipment on many vehicles are daily hazards on Surinamese roads. Seatbelts have been required for all automobile passengers since January 2007, and drivers must use a hands-free device if using a mobile phone while driving. Visitors are encouraged to use automobiles equipped with seatbelts and to avoid the use of motorcycles or scooters. An international driver's license is necessary to rent a car. The major roads in Paramaribo are usually paved, but are not always well maintained. Large potholes are common on city streets, especially during the rainy season, which lasts from approximately mid-November to January, and from April to July (rainy seasons can differ from year to year by as much as six weeks). Roads often are not marked with traffic lines. Many main thoroughfares do not have sidewalks, forcing pedestrians, motorcycles and bicycle traffic to share the same space. The East-West Highway, a paved road that stretches from Nieuw Nickerie in the west to Albina in the east, runs through extensive agriculture areas; it is not uncommon to encounter slow-moving farm vehicles or animals on the road. Travelers should exercise caution when driving to and from Nieuw Nickerie at night due to poor lighting and sharp road turns without adequate warning signs. There are few service stations along the road, and western-style rest stops are non-existent. The road is not always well maintained, and during the rainy season, large and sometimes impassable sinkholes develop along the road. Police recommend that travelers check with the police station in Albina for the latest safety information regarding travel between Paramaribo and Albina. Roads in the interior are sporadically maintained dirt roads that pass through rugged, sparsely populated rain forest. Some roads are passable for sedans in the dry season, but deteriorate rapidly during the rainy season. Interior roads are not lit and there are no service stations or emergency call boxes. Bridges in the interior are in various states of repair. Travelers are advised to consult with local sources, including The Foundation for Nature Conservation in Suriname, or STINASU, at telephone (597) 421-683 or 476-579, or with their hotels regarding interior road conditions before proceeding. For specific information concerning Surinamese driving permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, please contact the Embassy of Suriname in Washington, D.C. or the Consulate of Suriname in Miami. Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. Also, we suggest that you visit the website of Suriname's national tourist office and national authority responsible for road safety. AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of Suriname's Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Suriname's air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the FAA's safety assessment page. There are several airlines currently operating in Suriname, however, one of them, the Blue Wing Airline, is under investigation for its latest crash on 15 May, 2010. The Blue Wing flight crashed shortly after its departure from Godo Holo Airstrip, killing all eight people aboard There have been three Blue Wing airline crashes since 2008. All three accidents involved Antonov 28 planes. Consequently, the Government of Suriname's Civil Aviation and Safety Authority (CASAS) has grounded all Antonov planes pending further investigation. Blue Wing uses the Antonovs only for domestic flights. Following up on the action taken by CASAS, the U.S. Embassy has prohibited its employees from using Blue Wing Airlines for official travel on domestic flights within Suriname due to safety concerns arising from the airline's three crashes since 2008. Travelers should use their discretion regarding travel on Blue Wing international flights. CHILDREN'S ISSUES: Please see our Office of Children's Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction. * * * This replaces the Country Specific Information for Suriname dated September 29, 2009, with changes to all sections. |