A 14-member team from the National Assembly is slated to leave for Suriname today for four days to visit the Parliament of the Dutch-speaking nation, in an effort to build relations between the two parliamentary systems.In a statement released by Parliament Office last evening, it was noted that the intended purpose of the trip is to compare and contrast the two parliamentary systems to see how both parliaments could learn from each other and adopt best practices where applicable. That would, inter alia, create a structured “contact programme” between the parliaments of Guyana and Suriname; and to establish a formal relationship between the two parliaments and peoples, so that the many similar issues faced can be better understood and dealt with, among other things.

The delegation will be led by Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Barton Scotland and includes Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs; members from both the government and opposition; and supporting staff from Parliament Office.
The visit comes as a fulfilment to a commitment made by former Speaker Raphael Trotman to pay a return visit to the Parliament of Suriname.

This visit succeeds one paid by Dr. Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, Speaker of the National Assembly of Suriname, along with a delegation of 11, who visited Guyana from the 24th to 26th October 2013, following an extended invitation by then Speaker,Raphael Trotman.