By Nadine Sanchara
SPEAKER of the Suriname National Assembly, Dr. Jennifer Geerlings-Simons left her mark in the Guyana Parliament yesterday, after she became the first to sign the new guest book in the Parliament Chamber during a tour of its library, as well.

She and a delegation of Members of the Suriname Parliament are currently on an official visit, having accepted an invitation extended by Speaker of the Guyana National Assembly, Mr. Raphael Trotman.
During their busy schedule yesterday, Trotman advised that the previous Guest Book in Parliament has just been closed and retired to the library. As such, a new one was opened and Geerlings-Simons and the other visitors were the first to put their signatures in it.
The Surinamese were escorted on the tour of the Parliamentary Chamber and the Library by Trotman and members of the Parliament Office staff.
With the help of the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Sherlock Isaacs and Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms, Mr. Etwaroo Jaggernauth, the Speaker explained the processes of the House.
Geerlings-Simons was afforded the honour of sitting in the Speaker’s Chair in the Chamber, while the Surinamese Clerk sat in the Clerk’s place.
Ornate chamber

In addition, the delegation was told about the significance of certain objects in the ornate chamber, such as the portraits of past Presidents and the Speaker’s Chair, as well as the very intricate design of the ceiling.
The visiting delegation was allowed to ask questions and, in turn, provided an insight into their parliamentary processes.
Geerlings-Simons and her delegation also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Samuel Hinds at his Wight’s Lane, Kingston office, also in Georgetown.
They were warmly welcome by the PM himself, along with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Government Chief Whip and Presidential Adviser on Governance, Ms. Gail Teixeira.
The visiting deputation had previously made a courtesy call on President Donald Ramotar on Thursday, just after arriving in the country at Ogle International Airport, East Coast Demerara.
The Surinamese, also yesterday, called on Leader of the Opposition, Mr. David

Granger and the Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Mr. KhemrajRamjattan, prior to a meeting with the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Foreign Relations.
Tomorrow, the two speakers will hold a press conference to brief the media on the outcome of the visit and the delegation will be taken to St. George’s Cathedral, the Demerara Harbour
Bridge, Guyana Heritage Museum and Tuschen Housing Scheme, on the East Bank Essequibo.
Meanwhile, Trotman, speaking to the media on Thursday, said the visit was really about opening the lines of communication between the two countries “at a different level.”
He said the visit was “long in the making” since former Speaker of the House, Mr. Ralph Ramkarran had issued an invitation some years ago, but it never came to fruition.
Pursued it
Trotman said, upon assuming the post of Speaker, he decided to renew the invitation and pursued it between the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Members of Suriname Parliament.

He said he thought it was important to fulfil that undertaking.
Trotman explained that the objective is for Guyana’s Parliament to have “more than just a casual relationship with the Parliaments of neighbouring countries.”
To this end, he reported that he has had discussions with the Foreign Affairs Ministers of Suriname, Venezuela, Brazil and Trinidad and that the visit by Suriname’s Geerlings-Simons is the first that has borne fruit.
“The idea is that we share common space; we are neighbours and, with two of these countries, we have border disputes. So it’s important that we have a better understanding of each other, how we think and what informs our policies,” he stated.
Trotman stated that the visit is, generally, to boost relations between the two Parliaments and said it is hoped that, at the end, a way forward will be determined on how to advance those relations.
Geerlings-Simons and her delegation will depart from Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, tomorrow night.