GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana government says it is stepping up efforts to address concerns over Suriname’s proposed charges for use of the Corentyne River, with President Irfaan Ali indicating that the matter is receiving high-level attention.
“We will be increasing our advocacy in the coming days to have this matter resolved,” President Irfaan Ali told reporters, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is fully engaged.
Ali has also warned that Paramaribo’s move may create barriers to business and weaken investor confidence, as well as the long-standing arrangements between the two countries.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation (BIS) in Suriname said this does not constitute a new policy, but rather the consistent application of existing regulations.
In a statement, BIS said only one specific exception was made in 2012, which applied exclusively to vessels operating in support of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). According to the government, this exemption was a targeted cooperation measure and expressly not intended as a general regulation.
Suriname’s Foreign Minister, Melvin Bouva, has been holding discussions with Guyana’s Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud, during which Ali stressed the importance of strong bilateral relations.
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