In 2009, Suriname had an estimated population of 494,829 people, with a growth rate of 0.9%. The economy was largely based on exports of commodities such as bauxite and alumina as well as gold and oil. Foreign relations were mainly focused on trade agreements with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), European Union and other countries in the region. In terms of politics, Suriname was a parliamentary republic with a president as head of state. In 2009, Ronald Venetiaan was the president at that time and his party had a majority in both houses of Parliament. See internetsailors for Suriname in the year of 2011.
Yearbook 2009
Suriname. According to countryaah, Siegfried Gilds, former Minister of Commerce under President Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan, was sentenced in early May to 12 months in prison for illegal money laundering and bribery by a Paramaribo court. The incident attracted extra attention because Gilds made himself known as a sworn enemy to illegal money laundering during his time as minister. Gilds is said to have helped a relative in the Netherlands who was involved in drug smuggling. See ABBREVIATIONFINDER for abbreviation SR which stands for the nation of Suriname.
Economy
| Inflation rate | 22.00% |
| Unemployment rate | 8.9% |
| Gross domestic product (GDP) | $ 8,688,000,000 |
| GDP growth rate | 1.90% |
| GDP per capita | $ 14,900 |
| GDP by sector | |
| Agriculture | 11.60% |
| Industry | 31.10% |
| Service | 57.40% |
| State budget | |
| Revenue | 392.6 million |
| Expenditure | 425.9 million |
| Proportion of the population below the national poverty line | 70% |
| Distribution of household income | |
| Top 10% | k. A. |
| Lower 10% | k. A. |
| Industrial production growth rate | -2.00% |
| Investment volume | |
| National debt | 69.30% of GDP |
| Foreign exchange reserves | $ 381,100,000 |
| Tourism | 2014 |
| Number of visitors | 252,000 |
| Revenue | $ 103,000,000 |
An even more notable case during the year was the charge against former dictator Desi Bouterse, who is charged with murder committed during his time as head of state in the 1980s. The case was resumed at the beginning of the year after a lengthy stay because Bouterse did not approve one of the judgments in the case.