–credits this to Guyana Government’s posture on licensing issue

THE Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce & Industry (UCCCI) has said that it is pleased with the Government of Guyana’s pronouncements on the fishing licence issue, which fisherfolk have been grappling with for quite some time.

It was reported recently that Guyana plans to write CARICOM on the delay in issuance of fishing licences by Surinamese authorities to Guyanese fishermen.
“With the recent utterances by His Excellency, President Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali and Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, the chamber has seen a softening of the attitude of the Surinamese towards our fisherfolk. The Surinamese have since loosened up on some restrictions. Our fishing boats which were required to be stationed in Nickerie, Suriname, are now being released,” the UCCCI said.

The chamber related that it is hopeful that the proactive approach by local leaders to resolve this issue will influence the other impositions, specifically barriers to the issuance of licences to Corentyne fishermen.
“We are hopeful that our Surinamese counterparts will see the issuance of licence to our fisherfolk as a routine application. Our fisherfolk have long enjoyed friendly relations with our neighbouring counterparts and we believe with the softening of attitudes on this matter, we will continue to enjoy good relations,” the UCCCI said.

Vice President Jagdeo had announced that Guyana will be writing CARICOM over the harassment of local fishermen by Suriname’s authorities and the country’s failure to honour a written agreement to provide 150 licences to local fisherfolk.

The Vice President had outlined Guyana’s position twice in front of hundreds of fisherfolk at the Port Mourant and Skeldon Community Centre grounds.
He related that Guyana has been waiting long enough and it is time that the Surinamese authorities fulfill their commitment.

“We recognised the injustices that are meted out to fishermen from Guyana. We recognise the capricious nature of the Surinamese Government and the corruption in Suriname that is preventing this issue from being resolved,” Dr. Jagdeo said.

He added: “There are officials in Suriname who are totally corrupt and do not want to see this matter resolved because it affects their pockets…. It seems as though that these individuals whoever they are — are so powerful in Suriname – that they can negate a promise made by the President of Suriname.”

In July of this year, three Guyanese fishermen were detained by Surinamese authorities for fishing in that country’s waters and their vessels were seized. The men detained were identified as Ramesh Ramchand and Mahendra Bissessar of Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and Troy Tyrell of Lusignan, ECD.

On September 5, the Government of Guyana, in a statement, condemned the harassment of Guyanese fisherfolk by the Surinamese Government, inclusive of its failure to grant licences to local fishermen in keeping with the commitment made to President Ali, on November 26, 2020, during a visit to Suriname.

During the November 2020 visit, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha had met with Suriname’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Parmanand Sewdien, and requested the issuance of 150 SK licences, which would allow Guyanese fishermen to ply their trade in Suriname waters.