After ministerial bilateral meeting…
– agree on menu of measures to strengthen cooperation and consolidate coordination
GUYANA’S Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee and Suriname’s Minister of Justice and Police, Mr. Chandrikapersad Santokhi discussed a series of issues and matters related to common concerns about crime and security on Tuesday. The discussions took place at the second Guyana/Suriname Ministerial Bilateral Meeting convened at the Pegasus Hotel, in Kingston, Georgetown and they agreed on a menu of measures to strengthen cooperation and consolidate coordination in combating crime and threats to public safety, whenever required.

The ministers received reports on the functioning of the mechanism they established at Nieuw Nickerie, in May 2008, to facilitate effective and real time cooperation and coordination between their law enforcement agencies, both at the level of the relevant divisions/districts and at the agency-to-agency level.

Both Rohee and Santokhi said, after, they are satisfied that the mechanism is greatly assisting the agencies in their efforts to bring to justice persons who indulge in criminal activities.

They said they were particularly satisfied with the progress made in bringing to justice several perpetrators of robberies in the maritime zones of Guyana and Suriname.

The ministers underscored the importance of joint investigations into criminal activities that have links in both Guyana and Suriname and they have directed the relevant agencies on the actions they must immediately undertake to facilitate such joint investigations.

Multilateral instruments, to which Guyana and Suriname are parties, will be used to further security cooperation between the agencies, they said.

Rohee and Santokhi said they also talked about so called ‘back track’ (illegal migration) between Guyana and Suriname and plans, by the latter, to regulate those operations.

Guyana took note of the decision by the Republic of Suriname but said that, at this time, the status quo remains but both countries will continue to discuss this matter in future.

The Ministers concluded that the mechanism put in place has the potential to support the work of the law enforcement agencies in all the facets of cross boundary crimes and illegal activities.

They added that arrangements were made for focal points and working group meetings to explore the specific areas of cooperation and it was agreed that the third session of the Guyana/Suriname Ministerial Bilateral Meeting will be convened in Suriname.