Suriname elects leaders to steer new-found oil wealth
Tiny South America nation – which has growing ties to China – is battling debt but recent offshore crude discoveries suggest this may change
Suriname on Sunday began counting votes in parliamentary elections that will decide who will be responsible for distributing the South American country’s new-found oil wealth.
The tiny former Dutch colony – which has growing ties to China – is battling high debt, rampant inflation and poverty affecting nearly one in five of its 600,000 inhabitants.
But recent offshore crude discoveries suggest this may all be about to change.
Provisional estimates showed 63 per cent of voters cast a ballot for members of parliament, who will choose a president and vice-president.
French group TotalEnergies announced last year a US$10.5 billion project to exploit an offshore oilfield with an estimated capacity of 220,000 barrels per day.