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Inspection of Embassy Paramaribo, Suriname (ISP-I-03-37)

Embassy Paramaribo does a good job representing U.S. interests in an unpromising political and economic environment. The embassy works hard on its key MPP goals: regional stability, economic growth, and law enforcement cooperation. It has good working relationships throughout the spectrum of government, business, and social elites.

The embassy's public diplomacy activities and its initiative in establishing an American Chamber of Commerce are to be commended. In striving to meet its ambitious agenda of MPP and other mission goals, the embassy may be overreaching and projecting unrealistic future resource requirements.

Overall, the political/economic section, administrative section, and regional security office get high marks for their performance. Adequate management controls are in place. The embassy must address the implications for the current building of the Department's decision eventually to locate a new chancery on another site. The consular section needs to restructure and to realign its staff to reflect better the low workload.