A parliamentary delegation from Guyana last week visited Suriname for talks with its counterparts and among the points agreed in tackling sea piracy was greater collaboration between the law enforcement agencies of the two countries with an emphasis on patrolling targeted areas.
A statement on Saturday from Guyana’s Parliament Office said that the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland and a delegation of Members of Parliament and the Clerk and staff of the National Assembly, paid a four-day visit to the Speaker and the National Assembly of the Suriname aimed at consolidating and cementing relations between the two National Assemblies.
Dr. Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, Speaker of the Suriname National Assembly and a delegation had paid a visit to Guyana in October of 2013.
The release on Saturday from Parliament Office said that a series of meetings were held.
It was noted that the issue of sea piracy was common to both countries and reference was made to piracy in the Corentyne River. The release said that after discussing the severity of piracy with particular emphasis on the effects on fishermen, the meeting made the following suggestions that could be considered by both countries to combat the scourge:
* collaboration between law enforcement agencies of both countries with emphasis on patrolling targeted areas; and
* engaging in dialogue at the national level.
On the question of trafficking in persons, the release said the two sides identified the problems faced by both countries. It was noted that the problem was more prevalent in the interior of both countries. The delegations outlined the following decisions which had already been taken:
* the setting up of a Trafficking in Persons (TIP) unit and the work of the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO) in Guyana; and
* the efforts initiated by Suriname to protect young girls from being trafficked, specifically in the gold sector.
The delegations further suggested the following initiatives:
* creation of jobs and opportunities; and
* the continuous exchange of information between both countries regarding this problem.
The release also said that the Surinamese Minis-ter of Health told the meeting of the introduction in Suriname of Health in all policies – a World Health Organisation (WHO) Policy recommended to countries. This is an approach to public policies across sectors which systematically takes into account the health implications of decisions in order to improve population health and health equity.
The release said that the delegations noted that Suriname and Guyana faced the same problems with regard to Climate Change and the rise in sea levels. The Guyanese delegation made a presentation on the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). The release said that the delegations, noting the similarity of geography, agreed that the LCDS would be a useful initiative for Suriname to implement.
The meeting also agreed that a draft contact plan should be finalised which will see both Assemblies entering into continuous consultations to address the various issues and challenges faced. It was further agreed that the Guyana delegation will submit the document to the appropriate Committee of the National Assembly for examination and amendment and return it to the Surinamese delegation. The release said that Suriname’s delegation will then peruse the plan and arrange for it to be translated. The final document, having the agreement of both assemblies, will be signed by the Speakers.
The release said that the delegation paid a courtesy call on the Surinamese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
President Desi Bouterse, the release said “graciously agreed to receive the visiting delegation and encouraged an exchange of views with the delegation”.
Visits were also made to several areas of interest, including the coastal preservation initiative at Weg naar Zee and the refinery operations of the State Oil Company, Staatsolie at Tout Lie Fout.
The visit came at a particularly sensitive time as Suriname had just restated its claim to the New River region of Guyana.
