The Guyana Delegation urged the Republic of Suriname’s delegation at the Indigenous Peoples in Border Regions, ACTO meeting to desist from the breach of international protocols, after a portion of Guyana’s territory appeared on their map.
According to a press release from the Department of Public Information (DPI) on November 9, the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation (ACTO) regional meeting was being held in Lethem to discuss indigenous health in border regions of Guyana, Suriname, and Brazil.
The release stated that the issue arose during a power point presentation by the Surinamese delegation, when it was observed that the New River Triangle was included on the map. This area is located between the tributaries of the Corentyne River in southern Guyana and is about 3,000 square miles or 15,600 square kilometers. The area belongs to Guyana and this is recognised internationally.
The release quoted, Royston Alkins, Foreign Service Officer as stating on behalf of the local delegation that, “The inclusion of Guyana’s sovereign territory in the map is contrary to the internationally recognised jurisdictions of Guyana and Suriname and, is clearly a breach of international protocol.”
Alkins noted that Guyana and Suriname enjoy very good relations and Guyana remains committed to working with Suriname to strengthen this relationship.
This is not the first time, he explained, that Guyana has had to express these concerns in an ACTO forum, and once again it (Guyana) is pleading with Suriname to desist from the breaches of international protocols. Further, “We also call upon the organisation to have the document expunged from the records,” the release quoted him as telling the gathering.
Alkins also asked that the record of the meeting faithfully reflect the concerns as expressed by Guyana.
The Guyana delegation also included Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock and Minister within the Ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Ministerial Advisor, Mervyn Williams, representatives from the Ministries of Public Health, Communities and the Guyana Police Force.
