Guyana has signed a Memorandum of Under-standing (MoU) with Suriname to facilitate the joint bridging of the Corentyne River.
The MoU was signed in Paramaribo yesterday during a three-day state visit by President Irfaan Ali on the occasion of the 45th Independence anniversary of the neighbouring state.
“Once constructed the bridge will serve as a permanent physical link between the people of Guyana and Suriname and be of enormous benefit to the Tourism, Transportation and Trade sectors,” Ali told a press conference just before Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hugh Todd signed the MoU on behalf of Guyana.
Surinamese Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin signed on behalf of his government. His President, Chan Santokhi, in describing the proposed bridge said it was important not just for the movement of persons and goods but that is a symbol of the “transition to a new era of wellbeing and prosperity [governed by] freedom, democracy and the rule of law.”
Santokhi added that a call for expressions of interest from the international community related to the bridge could go out in a few days.
Discussions have he explained centred around inviting EoI’s for “the feasibility study, the design, build and maintenance.”
“We will do it jointly and decide from all the submissions which is best,” he explained.
The two governments also formalized a cooperation mechanism and established “a strategic dialogue co-operation platform”
According to Ali this platform establishes a framework to guide future collaborative efforts aimed at improving the lives of citizens.
The platform is to be operationalized by several working groups which both Heads of State promised would meet frequently to discuss among other issues the joint promotion of tourism and other business ventures.
The first priority however remains the restarting of the ferry service between the two countries which has not been active since 2019.
President Ali has however expressed interest in possibly establishing a free trade zone once in the area of the road alignment.
Acknowledging that these transportation linkages will not just decrease the cost of doing business but also increase the ease of doing business, Ali explained that the two governments have also agreed to the formation of the “Guyana-Suriname business facilitation unit” to manage and facilitate collaboration between the private sectors in both countries.
This unit will promote cross border investment opportunities in Agriculture, Tourism, Fisheries and other sectors.
Ali stressed that while Guyana individually and Suriname individually are small they can have an impact if they bring “synergy” to the management of the new oil finds in both nations.
“We have shared opportunities ahead. Opportunities that can only be realized if we have greater co-operation, collaboration and integration. This is what would lead to lasting sustainable relationships that would ultimately benefit our people. Relationships based on mutual respect, shared values, development focused, people focused….in an open and transparent manner…based on trust and joint action,” he explained.
Responding to questions from the Surinamese media, Ali added that the local content development including discussions about a shared deep water or shore based harbour are part of these “synergy” discussions.
“That is the type of policy framework we need to establish,” he said.
Asked whether issues surrounding the border between two countries are likely to affect these efforts at cooperation, Ali said “one is not dependent on the other.”
“There is a border Commission which continues to work…to speak prematurely on work being done is not doing justice to the Commission,” he stated.
