Adhering, it seems, to the principle that differences between nations ought not to serve as a hindrance to the consolidation of bilateral relations in areas where such progress is manifestly possible, parliamentary delegation from Guyana and Suriname last week issued a statement indicating that they had met and covered a considerable amount of ground in the areas of health, the environment, piracy at sea, trafficking in persons and the strengthening of bilateral contacts at the level of the National Assembly.
Berbice businessmen with whom Stabroek Business spoke said that while they regarded the whole bilateral agenda as important to relations between the two countries they were particularly interested in the talks on piracy which have often soured relations between the two countries.
The joint release issued at the conclusion of the discourses noted that “the issue of piracy was common to both countries” but made particular reference to “the prevalence of piracy in the Corentyne River” and the impact of piracy on the lives and livelihoods of Corentyne fishermen.
In the ongoing search for a satisfactory resolution of the piracy problem, two delegations agreed on, among other things, collaboration between law enforcement agencies of both countries with emphasis on patrolling targeted areas and engaging in ongoing bilateral dialogue.
The Guyanese and Surinamese parliamentary delegations also acknowledged that the two countries both face the problems of climate change and rising sea levels. The Guyanese delegation, the joint statement said, “presented an overview of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS)” which embraces both the country’s vision for “promoting economic development” while “combating climate change.” The “similarity of geography,” the Guyana side noted, meant that “the LCDS would be a useful initiative for Suriname to implement.”
The joint statement issued at the end of the exchange also “identified the problems faced by both countries in relation to human trafficking” particularly in the gold-bearing areas of both countries and agreed on the creation on a Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Unit. Additionally, the two delegations discussed efforts on the Surinamese side to protect young girls from being trafficked, specifically in the gold sector and mooted job creation opportunities and exchange of information between the two countries regarding the problem of trafficking in persons.
