Suriname: The United States has allotted and additional US$500,000 to train the Surinamese Army. This goes in effect June this year and includes the opportunity to do military training in America according to a US Embassy press release on Wednesday in Paramaribo.
According to a press release, the United States and Suriname last week signed an agreement that will provide US$500,000 in training for the Surinamese Army and Military Police. This is in addition to the US$225,000 dollars granted to Suriname under the United States International Military Education and Training (IMET) program in 2013.
Under the agreement, the US military will to travel to Suriname to provide training for military personnel at local military facilities. With this support, Suriname Armed Forces will be invited to attend training at US military installations, according to the release.
Suriname will start using the funds provided by the agreement this summer. In July, the Suriname Armed Forces will send one officer to attend the US Army's Logistics Captains Career Course in Fort Lee, Virginia. Funding will also be used to conduct military training for the Infantry and Military Police next year.
Last year, the United States and Suriname signed a similar agreement for US$400,000 to train the Surinamese Navy in the coming years.
In a related development, the United States will build a new Embassy in Suriname. The large embassy complex will be built in North Paramaribo at an estimated price tag of between US$85 and 115 million.
"Once the work starts, we expect construction to take three years," embassy spokesperson Virginia Elliot told Surinamese media.
The US government will sell the current embassy building at Dr Sophie Redmondstraat.
The new building is to extend to around 5,000 square meters and will include consular offices, maintenance facilities for vehicles, storage facilities, recreation rooms and a security perimeter.
The new building will be environmentally friendly, healthy and sustainable and have minimal impact on the environment that meets strict US 'LEED' standards.
