The detention of a Guyanese vessel by the Surinamese military in the Corentyne River earlier this week represents a direct threat to this country’s economic well-being and Guyana will be pursuing the matter vigorously.
Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues made this statement in the National Assembly yesterday.
The boat, which has since been released, was on its way to the Skeldon wharf to pick up a shipment of sugar when it was seized by Suriname.
“Mr. Speaker the unlawful and unwarranted detention of the Lady Chandra I and her crew represents a direct threat to the economic interests of Guyana. Sugar remains one of the key contributors to Guyana’s economy and development. Suriname must be aware that that act has constituted a direct threat to Guyana’s economic well-being,” Rodrigues declared.
She also pointed out that president Bharrat Jagdeo is on record as stating that Guyana is committed to resolving all disputes by peaceful means but that Guyana will take all measures necessary to safeguard its interests. Rodrigues said she has since met with Surinamese Ambassador to Guyana Manorma Soeknandan and expressed deep concerns on this latest incident and reminded her too that Guyana received no response to its last communication of a similar incident.
She explained too that Guyana has since dispatched a Note Verbale to the Surinamese ministry of Foreign Affairs protesting the illegal and unwarranted action. According to her the Surinamese officials have been reminded of the fact that the international law of the sea tribunal which dealt with the maritime boundary dispute had stated clearly that the use of force is to be eschewed and had condemned Suriname’s actions back in 2000 when its navy ejected an oil rig from Guyana’s waters.
In addition Guyana has also written Caricom Secretary-General Edwin Carrington informing him of this latest action and has also asked for sister Caricom states to be informed, she said.
Rodrigues emphasized that Guyana’s long-held position that both it and Suriname have equal rights to the use of the river is one that is based on international law.
She added that the Corentyne River forms the frontier between Guyana and Suriname and Guyana’s contention has always been that since the river is an international boundary it would carry all such attributes so that until and unless it is mutually agreed otherwise by definitive
delimitation, both states have equal rights to its use.
“Members of the House may also be aware that in the Arbitral Award of 1899 that settled the boundary with Venezuela, the Tribunal ruled that the boundary in the Mururuma, Amakuru, Wenamu and Cotinga Rivers would be mid-stream. In the Award delimiting the boundary between Guyana and Brazil in 1904 it was ruled that ‘the frontier along the rivers Ireng (Mahu) and Tacutu … remains fixed by the Thalweg, and the said rivers will be open to free navigation of the two States bordering on it.’
“Mr. Speaker, these are pertinent precedents in that they indicate a conscious and consistent application of dual rights on boundary rivers. Indeed they indicate clear jurisprudence on the matter of rights to boundary rivers.”
The Guyanese vessel has since been released after an agent acting on behalf of the owner paid a heavy fine, and the vessel and crew are travelling back to Port Georgetown. (See other story on page 3.)
