Suriname, South America’s smallest nation, is stepping into the spotlight as its recent elections set the stage for a new era. The country stands on the edge of a potential oil boom, but with great opportunity comes tough choices, especially when protecting its lush rainforests and the people who call them home.
A Tight Race for Power
The May 2025 elections saw voters head to the polls to choose all 51 members of the National Assembly, which in turn will select the next president and vice-president. The results were nail-bitingly close. President Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokhi’s Progressive Reform Party (VHP) won 17 seats, while Jennifer Geerlings-Simons’ National Democratic Party (NDP) took 18. With the remaining 16 seats split among smaller parties, the race to build a winning coalition has become the talk of the country.
By late May, Geerlings-Simons had pulled together a coalition with five other parties, potentially giving her group just enough votes to form a government. Yet with the pending recounts and the final tallies not to be decided until early June, the political atmosphere remains volatile and charged. Both major parties compete to capture the minor factions, trying to shift the elections in their favour.
The Promise of Oil Riches
Suriname's destiny is being remade because it has giant offshore oil and gas deposits. The Gran Morgu project, operated by TotalEnergies, will begin pumping oil in 2028 at 220,000 barrels per day. It could turn Suriname into a regional giant, rivalling Guyana, the nearby neighbour whose economy has already taken off because of its oil boom.
Suriname’s onshore Tambaredjo field currently produces a modest 17,200 barrels per day, but the offshore reserves are a game-changer. Estimates suggest 2.4 billion barrels of recoverable oil and over 12.5 trillion cubic feet of gas awaiting to be tapped. This windfall could help Suriname tackle its economic troubles, including high debt, inflation, and poverty that affects nearly one in five of its 600,000 citizens.
President Santokhi, a former police chief and justice minister of Indian origin, has spoken optimistically about the potential for oil revenues to drive national development and reduce inequality. “It will be a huge income for the country,” he recently told AFP. “We are now able to do more for our people so that everyone can be part of the nation's growth.”
Environmental Concerns: A Delicate Balance
While economic growth is promised in the oil boom, there are equally severe environmental implications. Suriname is one of the world's most forested nations, with almost 93% covered with rainforest. The forests provide a vast carbon sink, taking up more than the country produces in terms of carbon dioxide.
But the push for development has already put Suriname's natural resources under strain. Under President Santokhi, the administration has turned its attention to agribusiness and mining, but sometimes at the expense of conservation. Schemes for large-scale farming and bauxite mining, such as a controversial 30-year deal with Chinese company Chinalco, have been challenged by environmentalists and Indigenous communities. Some have been trimmed in scale or put on hold by street protests, but the tension between development and conservation remains.
Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, the NDP leader, has a cleaner green past, having voted to save the Central Suriname Nature Reserve and demanded a new law requiring local endorsement of development plans before they are implemented. Still, few anticipate that any coalition will place rainforest protection on its agenda.
What’s Next for Suriname?
The new government will have a hard act to top. One side of the needs that needs to be tackled is poverty, debt, and inflation, which are crying for solutions. Then, there is the need to guard Suriname's fragile environment and the rights of its citizens. Coalition talks will be complicated and run on for weeks as parties attempt to construct a government capable of solving these conundrums.
The final coalition must clearly state how the oil revenues should be managed, how the environment should be conserved, and how all should benefit from growth. Suriname politicians now have a unique chance to demonstrate to the rest of the world how a small nation can wisely utilize its natural riches, without sacrificing its natural and cultural heritage.
For those interested in Suriname’s rich culture and evolving story, the Global Indian Network features a dedicated destination page on Suriname. Here, you’ll find in-depth profiles, travel insights, and the latest updates on the country’s journey. Notably, Rajan Nazran, Chief Explorer at Global Indian Network, had the privilege of meeting President Chan Santokhi in person, gaining unique insights into Suriname's challenges and opportunities at this critical moment.
Conclusion
Suriname's 2025 elections mark a crossroads for the country. Coalition negotiations are underway, the nation teeters on the cusp of an oil-driven renaissance, and its leaders' choices will determine its fate for centuries to come. Executed with vision and an eye towards sustainability, Suriname could be the prototype for how small nations can utilize their resources for their benefit without compromising what sets them apart. The world holds its breath, and the stakes are greater than ever.
