Islamic banking also supports Suriname

- In the search for financial help Suriname can also put the Islamic Development Bank (ISDB) on his list. The Surinamese Minister of Finance Gillmore Hoefdraad announced that the bank established 1.75 billion dollars (1.55 billion euros) in Saudi Arabia has available to lend to Suriname.

The ISDB supports thereby the group of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), which total more than $ 900 million pledged to Suriname.

The bulk of the money Suriname borrower should be given to projects which will boost production in Suriname. This is necessary because the Surinamese economy now is one-sided and relies too much on the revenue from raw materials such as oil, gold and bauxite. The dollar 478 million from the IMF goes directly to the Central Bank of Suriname and is intended to support the balance of payments.

Not all Surinamese are pleased with the support from the IMF. They fear that Suriname even further into trouble because of the strict rules of the International Monetary Fund. They are afraid that President Bouterse abuse will make the money.

Suriname needs the loans because the South American country for over half a year is in major financial trouble. This is due to the low prices for oil and gold, the main export products. But the wasteful policies and corruption of the government of Desi Bouterse his critics causes of misery.