VZCZCXRO6818
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHPO #0577/01 3061741
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 021741Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9780
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO 1183

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PARAMARIBO 000577 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR: JROSHOLT; USTR FOR KENT SHIGETOMI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD AMGT XK XL NS
SUBJECT: POST INPUT TO REPORT THE OPERATION OF THE CARIBBEAN BASIN 
ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT 
 
REF: STATE 143212 
 
PARAMARIBO 00000577  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1. (U) Post submits input for the report on the Operation of the 
Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act.  Answers are keyed to 
reftel. 
 
¶2. (U) Paragraph 6. (1) WHETHER THE BENEFICIARY COUNTRY HAS 
DEMONSTRATED A COMMITMENT TO UNDERTAKE ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE WTO 
UNDER OR AHEAD OF SCHEDULE AND PARTICIPATES IN NEGOTIATIONS TOWARD 
THE COMPLETION OF A FREE TRADE AGREEMENT. 
 
Suriname is an actively participating member of the WTO and CARICOM 
and has under these agreements participated in the discussions of a 
free trade agreement.  The actual implementation of obligations 
under these agreements has, however, been slow.  Implementation of 
obligations usually drags on until the deadline is reached and is 
then usually achieved. 
 
   (2) THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE COUNTRY PROVIDES PROTECTION OF 
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS CONSISTENT WITH OR GREATER THAN THE 
PROTECTION AFFORDED UNDER THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE- RELATED ASPECTS OF 
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS 
 
Although Suriname is a signatory to the WTO TRIPS agreement, the 
country has not yet ratified this agreement. IPR protection is very 
limited due to the limited legislation on this issue. 
The Ministry of Justice and Police has committed itself to 
implementing all necessary legislation that would make Suriname 
TRIPS compliant and would provide for the necessary protection 
against music and brand piracy.  The Ministry is also working 
strengthening its Intellectual Property Bureau.  Draft legislation 
prepared in 2004 is currently under review by a special commission 
for further revisions and, once completed, will be sent on to the 
Council of Ministers and the National Assembly for approval. 
 
    (3) THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE COUNTRY PROVIDES INTERNATIONALLY 
RECOGNIZED WORKER RIGHTS INCLUDING: 
(I) THE RIGHT OF ASSOCIATION; 
(II) THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE AND BARGAIN COLLECTIVELY; 
(III) A PROHIBITION ON THE USE OF ANY FORM OF FORCED OR COMPULSORY 
LABOR; 
(IV) A MINIMUM AGE FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN; AND 
(V) ACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS OF WORK WITH RESPECT TO MINIMUM WAGES, 
HOURS OF WORK, AND OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH. 
 
(I) The right of association: Suriname law allows workers to form 
and join unions of their choice without previous authorization or 
excessive requirements. 
(II) The right to organize and bargain collectively: The law allows 
unions to conduct their activities without interference, and the 
government generally protects this right in practice. 
(III) A prohibition on the use of any form of forced or compulsory 
labor: While the law prohibits all forms of forced or compulsory 
labor, including by children, there were reports of child labor and 
trafficking in persons in Suriname. 
(IV) A minimum age for the employment of children: 
In Suriname there is a discrepancy between the minimum age for 
labor, which is 14 years, and the Compulsory Education Age, which is 
12 years. The law restricts working hours for minors to day shifts 
but does not specify the length of such day shifts. Children younger 
than 18 are prohibited from doing hazardous work, defined as work 
dangerous to their life, health, and decency; those younger than 14 
are only allowed to work in a family or special vocational setting 
or for educational purpose. 
(V) Acceptable conditions of work with respect to minimum wages, 
hours of work, and occupational safety and health: Suriname does not 
have legislation providing for a minimum wage. Work in excess of 45 
hours per week on a regular basis required special government 
permission, which was granted routinely. Employees received overtime 
pay for these excess hours. The law requires a 24-hour rest period 
per week. 
 
A 10- to 12-member inspectorate in the Occupational Health and 
Safety Division of the Ministry of Labor is responsible for 
enforcing occupational safety and health regulations. 
 
    (4) WHETHER THE COUNTRY HAS IMPLEMENTED ITS COMMITMENTS TO 
ELIMINATE THE WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR 
 
Suriname has ratified ILO Convention 182, regarding the worst forms 
of child labor.  The country's labor laws, however, do not define 
the worst forms of child labor or hazardous work. 
 
In December 2006, the Government installed the National Commission 
dealing with Child Labor, consisting of officials from various 
Ministries, representatives from the labor unions, the private 
sector and NGOs. This commission is primarily tasked with 
establishing an authority on child labor, as provided for in Article 
4 of Convention 182. Once established, the authority will advise the 
 
PARAMARIBO 00000577  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
Government on the issue of child labor, review the existing labor 
legislation, and draft new legislation regarding the worst forms of 
child labor. 
 
    (5) THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE COUNTRY HAS MET U.S. 
COUNTER-NARCOTICS CERTIFICATION CRITERIA UNDER THE FOREIGN 
ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1961 
 
In 2006, Suriname was not considered a major illicit drug producing 
and/or drug transit country as per sections 489 (a)(3), 481 (e)(2), 
and 481 (e)(5) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. 
 
    (6) THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE COUNTRY HAS TAKEN STEPS TO BECOME A 
PARTY TO AND IMPLEMENT THE INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION AGAINST 
CORRUPTION 
 
Suriname signed and ratified the Inter-American Convention. In 
September 2007 an intergovernmental commission to combat corruption 
was established. The Government of Suriname recently signed a 
Memorandum of Understanding with the Organization of American States 
on cooperation in the fight against corruption. 
 
    (7) THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE COUNTRY APPLIES TRANSPARENT, 
NONDISCRIMINATORY AND COMPETITIVE PROCEDURES IN GOVERNMENT 
PROCUREMENT, AND CONTRIBUTES TO EFFORTS IN INTERNATIONAL FOR A TO 
DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT RULES ON TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT 
PROCUREMENT 
 
Suriname applies transparent, nondiscriminatory and competitive 
procurement procedures in most cases.  Particularly in cases where 
the financing of the project have been from an outside source, the 
procurement procedures have been very transparent.  There have been 
some instances, however, where cases of preferential treatment have 
come to light.  These instances have mostly occurred in the 
rendering of projects related to public works. 
 
¶3. Paragraph 7. - HAS THE COUNTRY NATIONALIZED OR EXPROPRIATED THE 
PROPERTY OF U.S. CITIZENS? IF SO, IS THE COUNTRY TAKING STEPS TO 
RESOLVE THE ISSUE(S)? 
 
There are no known cases of nationalization or expropriation of 
property in Suriname. 
 
   - HAS THE COUNTRY FAILED TO ACT IN GOOD FAITH IN RECOGNIZING 
ARBITRAL AWARDS IN FAVOR OF U.S. CITIZENS? 
 
There are no known cases where the government has failed to act in 
good faith in recognizing arbitral awards in favor of U.S. citizens. 
 
 
   - DOES THE COUNTRY AFFORD PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO THE PRODUCTS 
OF A DEVELOPED COUNTRY, OTHER THAN THE UNITED STATES, WHICH HAS OR 
IS LIKELY TO HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON U.S. COMMERCE? 
 
The country has never afforded preferential treatment to the 
products of any developed country and has left the source of import 
up to the private sector.  The United States is currently Suriname's 
largest trading partner, with the majority of imports coming from 
the United States. 
 
   - DO GOVERNMENT-OWNED ENTITIES BROADCAST COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL 
BELONGING TO U.S. COPYRIGHT HOLDERS WITHOUT THEIR EXPRESS CONSENT? 
 
Both government-owned and private entities broadcast copyrighted 
material without the express consent of the owner.  The lack of 
adequate copyright legislation has made it difficult to combat this. 
 The Ministry of Justice and Police is currently working on 
preparing all necessary legislation that will provide regulation. 
 
   - IS THE COUNTRY A SIGNATORY TO A TREATY OR OTHER INSTRUMENT 
REGARDING THE EXTRADITION OF U.S. CITIZENS 
 
On June 2nd, 1887, an extradition treaty was signed between the 
United States and The Kingdom of The Netherlands which entered into 
force on July 18th, 1889.  An amendment to this treaty followed in 
¶1904.  As Suriname was a colony of the Kingdom of the Netherlands at 
that time, the enforcement of this treaty also applied to Suriname. 
Upon its independence in 1975, Suriname automatically adopted this 
treaty into its own legislation and it still serves as the 
extradition treaty between the United States and the Republic of 
Suriname. 
 
   - WHAT ARE THE GENERAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN THE COUNTRY? (A ONE 
OR TWO PARAGRAPH SUMMARY WILL BE SUFFICIENT); 
 
In 2006, Suriname's macroeconomic growth was better than expected, 
benefiting from a continued favorable external environment.  Real 
GDP grew by an estimated 6 percent.  Inflation dropped to below 5 
percent, from 16 percent in 2005, aided by tight credit policies by 
 
PARAMARIBO 00000577  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
the Central Bank and a stable exchange rate.  The external current 
account reported a surplus of 5 percent of GDP, while net 
international reserves rose sharply to 2 months of imports of goods 
and services.  The GDP in 2006 was estimated to be USD 2.1 billion, 
with average GDP per Capita of USD 4,000. 
 
Inflation for the first six months of 2007 was estimated at 6 
percent.  Even though the IMF has repeatedly warned Suriname about 
its economic dependence on minerals, the macroeconomic performance 
is expected to grow even further due to record international market 
prices for gold, aluminum, and oil.  In the financial sector, the 
Central Bank lowered the reserve requirement for the commercial 
banks from 27 percent to 25 percent on January 1, 2007.  This led to 
an increase in available local currency, and to a drop in interest 
rates for local currency from 15 percent to approximately 10 
percent. 
In 2005 the government of Suriname embarked on a bold plan to reduce 
all of its outstanding bilateral debt.  By August 2007, after 
repaying its largest creditor the Netherlands, Suriname only has 2 
major creditors, the United States and Brazil. 
 
In the non-mineral sector, Suriname's major exporting products are 
bananas, wood, shrimp and fish. 
 
   - TO WHAT EXTENT HAS THE COUNTRY ASSURED THE U.S. IT WILL PROVIDE 
EQUITABLE AND REASONABLE ACCESS FOR U.S. GOODS AND SERVICES TO ITS 
MARKET? 
 
There is no limitation on the access of U.S. goods in the Surinamese 
market.  The market for U.S. services in Suriname is relatively 
small and has so far been limited to services provided in the oil 
sector and the bauxite/mining sector.  The need and interest for 
these services is, however, growing.  The cost of these services has 
been a greater issue than the access for these services. 
 
Through its membership in CARIFORUM, negotiations are currently 
ongoing that will establish an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) 
with the European Union.  As part of this EPA Exclusion Lists, 
Phased Reduction Lists, and Zero Lists will go into effect that will 
significantly reduce, or completely eliminate, the import tariffs on 
goods from Europe, making them cheaper and thus more attractive. 
The EPA is expected to go into effect on January 1, 2008. 
 
   - WHAT IS THE EXTENT OF THE COUNTRY'S USE OF EXPORT SUBSIDIES OR 
TRADE-DISTORTING EXPORT PERFORMANCE OR LOCAL CONTENT REQUIREMENTS? 
 
Suriname has no export subsidies, trade distorting export 
performance or local content requirements.  The only sector that has 
received significant lobbying assistance from the government for its 
place in the international market is the banana sector.  The sole 
destination of this product has been Europe, and the placement for 
this product has been arranged through EU - ACP agreements. 
 
   - DO THE TRADE POLICIES OF THE COUNTRY CONTRIBUTE TO 
REVITALIZATION OF THE CBI REGION AS A WHOLE? 
 
The trade policies of Suriname do not specifically contribute to the 
revitalization of the CBI region as a whole.  Suriname is not a 
member of the CBI or CBERA. 
 
   - IS THE COUNTRY UNDERTAKING SELF-HELP MEASURES TO PROMOTE ITS 
OWN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? 
 
Self-help measures for the promotion of the local economic 
development have been very limited and have been on a macro/monetary 
level.  The private sector has taken a primary role in the 
development of business opportunities. 
 
   - IS THE COUNTRY COOPERATING WITH THE U.S. IN THE ADMINISTRATION 
OF CBERA? 
 
Suriname has no cooperation with the United States on the 
administration of CBERA. 
 
¶4. (U) The point of contact at post is: 
 
Geneve Menscher 
Section Head 
Political- Economic Section 
Tel. (597) 472-900 ext. 2205 
Fax  (597) 420-800 
menscherge@state.gov 
 
WEBB