GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – President Irfaan Ali will make his first overseas visit since being re-elected head of state here on Saturday, according to Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud, for talks with his Surinamese counterpart.
He said that the talks between Presidents Ali and Jennifer Geerlings-Simons will take place in Nickerie, a Surinamese township near the border between two neighbouring Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries.
Persaud said the planned four-hour meeting is expected to focus on the construction of the Corentyne River bridge, energy, and other bilateral issues.
Political observers in Suriname say the bilateral meeting promises to be anything but routine and that issues on the table offer both opportunities for economic integration and risks to national sensitivities.
They point to the Corantijn Bridge, the ferry connection, fishing licenses, investment agreements, cooperation in oil and agriculture, and the simmering border issue around Tigri.
“This summit marks a symbolic and practical moment: the start of a new phase in cooperation and the reassessment of controversial agreements from the previous administration,” the observers note.
Earlier this week, a government statement said that President Ali had met with Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Melvin Bouva, “to advance development initiatives between the two countries”.
It stated that the discussions focused on Guyana’s commitment to the Corentyne River Bridge project, collaboration with Suriname to resolve issues affecting fisherfolk, improving the efficiency of the Guyana–Suriname ferry system, and exploring joint investment opportunities.
Ali said part of the discussions between Guyana and Suriname will center on financing the construction of the bridge.
“That is part of what we’re discussing, the financing mechanism, how it will be structured, and those kinds of things. That is what has to be finalised,” he added.
Asked whether Suriname has committed to going ahead with building the bridge, the President referred to Monday’s meeting with Bouva, saying, “We have not had any changes in the commitment.
“We have not had a response that this is not a priority, but the meeting this weekend hopefully would clarify and would settle what the priorities are for Suriname at this time,” he said.
The former Surinamese government of Chandrikapersad Santokhi had been enthusiastic about building the 1.1-kilometre bridge, and Guyana and Suriname had agreed to have the China Road and Bridge Corporation undertake the construction work.
The bridge caters for ships of 47,000 deadweight tonnes, a horizontal clearance of 100 metres, and a vertical clearance of 43 metres. Guyana has allocated US$23 million this year towards the construction of the bridge, which could cost at least US$300 million.
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