Is it Safe to Live in Suriname? Know the Facts

Having a clear idea about a place before we ought to reside or set up a business in an unknown place is extremely important. Suriname is one of the smallest South American countries, located in the Northern part. However, Suriname is a culturally rich and budding country that is economically viable. Moreover, it is a beautiful place, bordered by the Northern Atlantic Ocean.

But before deciding to reside there, set up a business, or even merely travel, it is important to know about the place. Next, the need to know arises: Is it safe to live in Suriname? Let us try to unpack this question.

Why Should One Travel to Suriname?

Many people consider Suriname a mystery. It was a Dutch colony that borders Brazil, which is famous for its Amazon forests and Atlantic coastline. Suriname can be said to be a mixing bowl of one of the ethnically diverse countries in the Americas.

Most of the Surinamese people's roots can be traced from their older generation as enslaved Africans and Indian and Javanese indentured labourers who were forced to work in the agricultural fields by the Dutch colonies. Therefore, most of the political parties are also ethnically based, and there is more than one official language.

Apart from being an ethnically diverse country, Suriname is also rich in Gold, oil, and agriculture, which are some of the primary economic sectors. Therefore, Suriname has many reasons to visit, if not to consider the entire year-long tropical climate, to have a perfect vacation. Before visiting, one might wonder: Is it safe to live in Suriname?

Is it Safe to Travel in Suriname? Taking all the Travel Advice

It is better to take a piece of travel advice before venturing into an unknown place. Suriname is a melting pot of different ethnic and cultural groups, with mosques, Hindu temples, and synagogues on the same streets. Surinamese are friendly in nature and welcome tourists with an open heart.

The capital city of Suriname, Paramaribo, which locals call 'Parbo', has an astounding historic core of Dutch colonial buildings that have been transformed since the 17th century. It has been recognized by UNESCO and is an excellent place for exploration. However, there are some places in Paramaribo where one's personal life is at stake, much more than in other parts of the country.

An increase in crime levels, including petty crimes like pickpocketing, remains a real nuisance in urban places and market areas, which makes visitors think twice before visiting the capital city of Suriname. Travelling to the rainforested interior of Suriname is another attraction, but again, it comes with its risks. The nature and remoteness of this place are a significant concern; therefore, any trip made here should be planned beforehand. The idea of a solo trip is not preferred.

Even due to a lack of strict vigilance, Suriname is used as a transit zone for South American cocaine on its way to Europe, which probes into a serious degree of crime levels. In 2017, Surinamese were affected by dengue fever, which made the country rank five according to WHO in regards to people who died of Dengue Fever globally. The name of this country also rakes in deaths caused by violence and accidents.

Therefore, it is a question of whether Suriname is safe to travel to because of the accelerating rate of corruption. Despite this, in 2017, it recorded a total of 2,78,000 tourists, an annual increase of around 13% from the figure of 2,57,000 in 2016. Even the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has predicted that Suriname will be receiving 357,000 tourists yearly by 2025.

Is it Safe to Live in Suriname? Exploring the Unknown Facts

After knowing how safe it is to travel in Suriname, the next question is whether it is safe to live there. The crime rate of petty crimes, personal safety and road safety - all of which we learnt while thinking of making a trip to Suriname, applies pretty much here in the case of living in Suriname, too.

Criminals mainly target foreigners; therefore, it is essential to secure their documents and belongings and keep their money safe. The Palm Garden in the Dutch area of Pararimbo is ill-famous for its illicit activities and the lack of police presence. Gangs are known to be concentrated along the Guyana border. The lack of police presence increases the risk of armed robbery, burglary and carjacking, which makes it challenging to travel alone peacefully.

Demonstrations and political protests are frequent on Saturdays in Paramaribo. Strange enough is the fact that peaceful demonstrations can also turn violent at any time, which can cause unnecessary traffic and smooth travelling of public transport. Even trekking can be risky because of the dense jungle. One should also be aware that often taxis might demand overprice from travellers. Even the coastal waters of Suriname are bereft from pirate attacks and armed robbery.

How Should One Lead Life in Suriname? Knowing the Safest Ways

After learning, "Is it safe to live in Suriname?" let us know how to lead a life safely in Suriname. One should keep in mind that this friendly country does not openly accept homosexuality. However, Surinamese law does not prohibit sexual acts between individuals of the same sex. Suriname does not legally recognize dual citizenship, according to which persons born in Suriname, if they gain citizenship of another country, will immediately be considered foreigners.

In Suriname, there is a heavy penalty for someone who possesses or is involved in trafficking illegal drugs. The accused might receive long-term sentences behind bars, heavy fines, or even both. Therefore, one should not carry such prohibitory things in one's bag or take another's bag.

To maintain health, one should be precautious regarding waterborne diseases, such as typhoid, traveller's diarrhoea, diseases caused by infected insects, especially infected mosquitoes, infections caused by animals, such as rabies, and influenza and person-to-person infections such as HIV, STIs and Flu. These diseases can be avoided by drinking boiled water, using insect repellents and mosquito nets, staying away from the infectious person and washing hands frequently.

Even a discussion with a healthcare professional might help take extra care of one's health.

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Conclusion

By answering, "Is it safe to live in Suriname?", we came to know that this country is tough to choose for independent travel or leisure travel, not only because of language barriers but also due to the increasing crime levels. It isn't easy to keep money safe. Moreover, due to a variety of diseases, it is difficult to maintain water precautions, be safe from infected mosquitoes, or take extra care of it.

Therefore, if anyone decides to stay or visit Suriname, they should be cautious about the aforementioned causes and thoroughly research the place before heading there.

FAQs

Is Suriname a Safe Place to Live?

It is quite difficult to ascribe Suriname as a nice country or safe place because of the increasing crime levels, the many diseases caused by infected insects, especially infected mosquitoes, the need to take extra precautions to keep money safe all the time, etc.

Can Foreigners Work in Suriname?

To work in Suriname, the foreigners either require a work permit or need to marry a Surinamese.

What are the Living Conditions in Suriname?

Suriname's living conditions are not bereft of fret and worry. The increasing crime levels, extra water precautions, processions, and unnecessary extortion of money make it difficult to ascribe it to a nice country.