Guyana has welcomed an announcement by Suriname’s President Chandrikapersad Santokhi to formalise a legal process for travel on the Springlands to Nickerie `back track’ route.
“This is a welcomed development for Guyana…” a senior government official told Stabroek News yesterday, explaining that the diplomatic “formalisation” process has not yet been concluded.
Suriname’s state information agency, Communicatie Dienst Suriname (CDS), on Friday reported the announcement by that country’s President while on a visit to the Nickerie rice district.
“We are convinced that this `back track’ meets an enormous need. But as a government, it remains our job and responsibility to ensure that things are done safely and in accordance with legal regulations,” Santokhi said during his visit as he announced that legal and regulatory border patrols will be put in place.
“This government will once again accommodate all competent authorities, aliens, police, customs, and all others, so that everything runs smoothly, safely and according to legal regulations,” he added.
Suriname Minister of Foreign Affairs, Albert Ramdin through his Secretary yesterday confirmed with Stabroek News that the `back track’ route will be made into a legal route of travel.
Many persons utilise the route as an alternative to the Canawaima ferry service, which is operated daily between Moleson Creek, Guyana and South Drain, Suriname. Since many travellers do not use travel documents to cross, a source had explained, there are a significant number of persons who travel to Suriname through the route for work in Nickerie and this has been the custom for decades.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, both routes were closed and some persons who had gone without documentation were unable to return until the reopening later in 2020.
According to CDS, Santokhi underscored that travel between the two countries provides areas for development with tourism and trade being key.
Santokhi also asked the Nickerians not to stop there, but to go further to set up the community in such a way as to increase its earning capacity.
To the boat owners that operate the route, the President underscored the importance of safety and adherence to laws and regulations that would govern operations.
CDC said that earlier this year, Suriname’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation (BIBIS) received several concerns and began discussions on a way for the regulation of the `back track’ route. Suriname’s ministries of Defence, Justice and Police, Health, Finance and Planning were “explicitly involved in the evaluation and the further approach. The problems have been mapped out by putting together a committee and work has been done on orderly and safe border traffic”, the agency said.
