Low German Colony Mennonites have purchased nearly 350 square miles of land in Suriname, with the goal of establishing a new settlement.
Die Mennonitische Post reported delegates from more than 20 colonies in Belize, Bolivia and Mexico have been traveling for months to Suriname, on the northern coast of South America.
Exhibiting what the newspaper has termed “Suriname fever,” several people have expressed interest in moving to the 222,395-acre area, but it is not yet clear who will move there first.
The Post reported the government will allow the land to be settled and cultivated but does not want to allow additional land sales. Other land appears to be available in neighboring Guyana, but that nation’s government has indicated it is not interested in allowing Mennonite immigration.
Have a comment on this story? Write to the editors. Include your full name, city and state. Selected comments will be edited for publication in print or online.