– head of launch of Strategic Dialogue and Cooperation Platform

CONCRETISING plans for economic and social cooperation between Guyana and Suriname will be high on the agenda over the next two days, as local officials engage Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation of Suriname, Albert Ramdin, who is to lead a delegation here today.
Ramdin, during his official visit, is expected to meet with local Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, to continue consultations on the various initiatives formerly agreed upon by President Mohamed Irfaan Ali and President of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, said discussions will also focus on preparations for the launch of a Strategic Dialogue and Cooperation Platform (SDCP).
President Ali, following his inauguration in August this year, had met with President Santokhi to discuss a number of areas which the two countries could work collaboratively on.
Among some of the areas were oil and gas, infrastructure, border and maritime security, COVID-19, mining, technology, and agriculture, the ‘green’ economy initiative and joint engagement on local content.

President Ali had said the aim of the engagement was to support bilateral relations between the neighbouring countries and open up new areas for cooperation from emerging sectors, and develop infrastructure linkages beneficial to both countries.

“We recognise that our countries share similar challenges, circumstances and opportunities at this moment and it is very critical and important for us to work together to find common solutions,” President Ali had said, adding: “We need to set out an agenda that’s proactive, an agenda with deadlines, an agenda with greater involvement of stakeholders in the society of both countries, especially the private sector.”

President Santokhi, in response, had said: “Yes, there is a historical cooperation with Suriname and Guyana, but from this moment, with these two leaders, there will be a value-added to that cooperation…We’re not here only to discuss, but we’re here to act.”

He had said a working committee will be set up at the policy and technical levels to advance discussions and to determine a timetable of action. The Surinamese President also announced that soon, a written agreement will be formalised to back the plans.

With Ramdin here, it is expected that this agreement will be ‘ironed out’ and finalised to the benefit of both countries. Ramdin is accompanied by Suriname’s Minister of Public Works, Dr. Riad Nurmohamed, and the Minister of Public Health, Amar Ramadhin, along with other government officials.
Just Saturday, Guyana’s Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill and Dr. Nurmohamed visited the proposed site for the new bridge across the Corentyne River, connecting Guyana and Suriname.

The ministers visited the landing areas in Guyana and Suriname, and the middle at Long Island (Lange Island). The flags of both countries were planted at those locations, an exercise which demonstrated the political will of both governments to put their people first.

Formal diplomatic relations between Guyana and the Republic of Suriname were established on November 25, 1975.