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CNN World Report

A Road March Is a Form of Recreation in Suriname

Aired May 20, 2001 - 14:53   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ASIEH NAMDAR, CNN ANCHOR: If you love your weekend and hate to see them end, well, you are not alone.

SHIHAB RATTANSI, CNN ANCHOR: Some people in Suriname have found a way to stretch out one special weekend. Here's a report from Suriname's ATV, a new contributor to the program.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEVEN LEEFLANG, ATV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Three thousand people march, dance or sing their way through the streets of Paramaribo. This the four-day road march which enjoys enormous popularity. It's an annual event held out every Easter holidays when school enjoy their vacations.

The road march has evolved from a sports-only event that started seven years ago to an expression of Surenamese culture and fun. The event keeps getting better, says 53-year-old Laitfin Loy (ph) who has walked in every march.

PERCY OLIVIERA, PARADE ORGANIZER (through translator): The first time we were unprepared. Now we get better information. We know what to do, so we can finish the march easily.

LEEFLANG: The organization of Companies for Sports and Recreation, the organizer of the road march, is working to make things even better.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We want to make it an international event. We constantly work on quality instead of quantity improvement. If you want to get international participants and visitors, the march should live up to high standards.

LEEFLANG: The participants walk almost 60 kilometers in four days to different neighborhoods. Well, it makes you wonder if you can call this walking. On roads, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) on the sidewalk, the group stop and shift into high gear.

Some people just have fun walking. This 91-year-old lady started walking the road march when she was 84. The oldest participant of this event does not even get tired.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): No, it's not allowed. If God is in me, how can I get tired? God never gets tired. LEEFLANG: Others call up on the spirits. This girl symbolizes the Leba (ph), a spirit from the Surenamese folklore. The Leba (ph) spirit cleans the path and protects against harm. If the road march organizers have their way, maybe the Leba (ph) will clean away for tourists to visit this event.

Steven Leeflang, for CNN WORLD REPORT.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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