PRESIDENT, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali hosted a four-day official visit of his Surinamese counterpart, Mr. Chandrikapersad Santokhi. It is the second visit to Guyana by the Surinamese Head of State since he assumed the presidency just over a year ago. President Ali, it will be recalled, also paid an official visit to that country, his first overseas engagement since he was sworn in as President on August last. These are indeed indications of the strong bonds of friendship and co-operation between the two leaders as they seek to deepen mutually beneficial relations.

The objectives of the visit are to examine ways for enhanced collaboration in order to improve the quality of life for all citizens through economic and social benefits. According to President Ali, the discussions between the Surinamese President and himself are not “time wasting” exercises, but are aimed at reducing existing gaps and barriers and to create new opportunities for co-operation.

Both Heads of State shared the same level of optimism regarding the prospects for enhanced co-operation and improved relations between the two countries. “We are not on a time-wasting exercise. We are here to make decisions today for a better tomorrow, and we are going to advance at a rapid pace from today all commitments and decisions that we will take,” President Ali stressed.

According to President Ali, both countries have small populations, similar challenges and similar opportunities. “We have to see how to merge our thinking and make sure that our policies reflected that integrated approach to bring betterment for the people of the two countries,” he said. Additionally, the two leaders examined possible areas of collaboration in areas such as the COVID-19 pandemic, oil and gas and infrastructural development, among others. Also discussed by the two Presidents were local content and legislation governing local content policy, tourism, linkages between Suriname, Guyana and Brazil, agriculture, trade and enhanced security.

According to President Santokhi, the visit provided an opportunity for the two sides to evaluate progress made at the bilateral level within the context of the current dialogue and the co-operation platform established one year ago. He reiterated the importance of Guyana both as a neighbour and as a strategic partner.

The visit could not have come at a more opportune time in the history of both countries. Both have had a chequered political past, interspersing between periods of authoritarian and democratic rule. Guyana, like Suriname, is blessed with fertile land, tropical pristine forests and an abundance of natural resources. And as luck would have it, both countries now have significant oil and gas reserves estimated at a combined ten billion barrels of oil equivalent.  At the socio-cultural level, both countries have diverse populations. It is no secret that thousands of Guyanese were forced to seek a new life in Suriname during the dark period of PNC authoritarian rule.

Given the similarities at the economic and cultural levels, it is only natural that both countries seek to forge a shared developmental path. Suriname and Guyana share a common border, separated by the Corentyne River.

It is said that one can live without one’s friends but not without one’s neighbours. There is a lot of truth in that saying. It is even better when our neighbours are also our friends and partners. It is in this context that the current bilateral discussions between the two nations have to be seen.

Works are currently in place to further cement those bonds by way of the construction of a bridge across the Corentyne River. This, along with the Takatu Bridge and improved road infrastructure will result in enhanced trade relations not only between the two countries but in Latin America and beyond.

There are now strong indications that the current level of co-operation will be taken to an even higher level with a common gas strategy based on significant discoveries of oil offshore Guyana and Suriname, laying the foundations for sustained and transformative economic growth and prosperity.

The tide has certainly changed in favour of a better life for the peoples of both countries. The leaders of the two countries must be commended for their common vision on the way forward and for not wasting any time in optimising the development potential of both countries, not only for their own citizens but for the region as a whole.