GUYANA will today be hosting the largest business/trade delegation ever to grace these shores from its neighbour to the east, Suriname, as the Private Sector Commission (PSC) spearheads the first ever Trade Mission meant to foster better trade relations and boost tourism ties, as well as to iron out any difficulties that may be experienced on either side.Chairperson of the PSC’s sub-committee on Trade, Ramesh Dookhoo, along with executive member of the business umbrella body, Eddie Boyer, yesterday updated media operatives on the initiative ahead of the arrival of the Surinamese delegation today for the two-day confab.

According to Dookhoo, at least 40 Surinamese companies and government representatives will be taking part in the confab, in addition to the Surinamese Chamber of Commerce, several local chapters of local chambers of commerce, the Surinamese Trade Minister,Don Tosendjojo, along with Guyanese Foreign Trade Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.
As it relates to government participation at the event, representatives from the Customs Departments of both countries are expected to make presentations to the working sessions.
Representatives of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) and the Surinamese Business forum are also expected to be a part of the working sessions.
NO TALK SHOP
Dookhoo, who is also the Chairperson of the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC), told media operatives that measures are being put in place to ensure that the event does not result in just another talk shop, but rather, the PSC wants to see the decisions taken implemented.
In an effort to do this, the event has been structured in such a way that more time will be dedicated to the ‘working sessions’ of the confab, as according to Dookhoo, the ‘niceties” have been limited.
“We are de-emphasising many speeches; what we want to do is to encourage businesses in Suriname to meet businesses in Guyana, to develop ties and to develop opportunities, and to have business to business meetings which we hope will dominate the entire visit.”
According to Dookhoo, too many times have there been forums where “we all talk too much and we go home with nothing to show; we are hoping that this will be different.
He was adamant that the authorities will be documenting all that transpires and “we will all follow up on the discussions that were held.”
Dookhoo did point out that on very many occasions where similar such confabs are held, there are a number of governmental issues that remain unresolved, which, in many cases, stymie accelerated progress on decisions taken.
As a result, Dookhoo said, “we are going to have government officials meeting with the Surinamese delegation …similarly businesses on our side will have the opportunity of meeting a Minister of Trade from Suriname.”
SMUGGLING
Meanwhile, Dookhoo was asked to weigh in on what, if any place, the issue of smuggling will take at the Trade Mission, along with the PSC’s position, to which he responded bluntly, “we are unhappy, and our manufacturers especially are unhappy, about cross border smuggling.”
Dookhoo was quick to point out that time has been allotted during the course of the two day confab for representatives of the Customs Departments of both countries to make presentations.
“Obviously the Private Sector will be asking some hard questions, our manufacturers especially are very, very concerned about cross border smuggling into Guyana…the Private Sector demands that the smuggling be reduced to a minimum level,” said Dookhoo.
The PSC officials were loud in praise of the operations of the duty free bond located at Nickerie, Suriname, where an exporter can store his goods before export to Guyana.
According to Dookhoo, the idea was floated recently of putting systems in place to collaborate closely with its Surinamese counterparts at Nickerie which would allow for better tracking of imports and exports.
He announced that the PSC will be pushing the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to adopt such a system.
With one country benefiting from the illegal trade while the other perishes, Dookhoo said that it was Guyana that was on the adverse end of the equation.
He explained that in Suriname there is greater access to concessionary imports from Europe, which would see, in some sectors, superior goods to that available in Guyana, being smuggled across the border.
Dookhoo explained that European goods coming into Guyana attract a higher tax than imports from a CARICOM country, hence the incentive to smugglers.
According to Dookhoo, the message that the PSC would want to send to the Customs Officials of both countries is, “we are interested in legal trade.”
CCJ RULING
Immediately dispelling any notion that the recent court case involving Guyana and a Surinamese company could in any way deter companies from that country taking part in the event, or expressing an interest in doing business locally, Dookhoo pointed out that not only is Caribbean International Distributors Inc. (CIDI) a sponsor of the initiative, but another large scale beverage company out of that country will also be participating.
The Caribbean Court of Justice had ruled that an Environmental Tax charged by Guyana was discriminatory, and as such awarded judgment against the Guyana Government in favour of the Surinamese Company,CIDI, but to date the sum has not been paid.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall was quoted in the media recently saying that Government did not have money at present to make the payment.
Nonetheless, this is not being seen as a deterrent, since according Dookhoo, “I don’t think it will overshadow any company, CIDI is an official sponsor of this event as well…business to business, Suriname and Guyana, we have excellent relations.”
It was explained too that the ruling and the judgment has to do with the Government of Guyana and has not affected any business to business relationships with Suriname.
CORENTYNE RIVER BRIDGE
On the matter of the Corentyne River Bridge, meant to serve as a conduit between the two countries, Dookhoo said that in his experience, politicians sometimes need the collective support of the Private Sector.
This, he said, is true for both countries and as a result, the notion will be put to the President of the Surinamese Chamber of Commerce, “that we sign a joint statement supporting the building of the bridge across the river.”
A brainchild of the Ministry with responsibility for Industry and Commerce, Dookhoo explained that the Trade Mission is a direct result of a study that was commissioned to ascertain what needs to be done to improve trade between Brazil, Suriname and Guyana.
The study was recently adopted by the Private Sector bodies in all three countries at a meeting in Suriname, and the Trade Mission hosted in Guyana is the first substantial initiative to be undertaken under the accord to promote trade among the South American countries.

(By Gary Eleazar)