Peace Without Poison

After independence in 1975 responsibility for the depopulation genocide passed onto theshoulders of the following freely elected presidents: Johan Ferrier (1975-1980, who served alsoas the last Governor of Suriname, as mentioned above), Hendrick Chin A Sen (1980-1982), FredRamdat Misier (1982-1988), Ramsewak Shankar (1988-1990), Johan Kraag (1990-1991),Ronald Venetiaan (1991-1996, 2000-2010), and incumbent Dési Bouterse (since August 2010).The freely elected presidents of Suriname reduced their people’s total fertility rate from 4 to 2 by2007 and to 2.2 children per woman to date.Contraceptives have never played a role in Suriname’s fertility decline since they were virtuallyunknown prior to the late 1990s, by which time fertility had already declined from 9.5 to 2.6children per woman. In the first decade of the 21 st century, Suriname’s contraceptive prevalencerate rose to 45%, the highest level it has ever been at, but still nowhere near high enough toaccount for replacement level fertility.Abortion is a non-factor in Suriname’s fertility decline since it is illegal and performed only tosave the life or health of the woman.Suriname has been rewarded for its war on fertility with prosperity, for as soon as fertility camedown to near replacement level around the year 2000 the GDP began shooting up.792 | P a g e