GUYANA’S Private Sector Commission (PSC) has issued a forceful denunciation of Suriname’s newly enforced fees on vessels traversing the Corentyne River, declaring the charges anti-trade, in violation of the spirit of CARICOM’s regional integration framework, and directly harmful to the livelihoods of thousands of Guyanese citizens who depend on the waterway for their economic survival.
The PSC, in a strongly worded statement released on April 4, condemned “in the strongest terms” the imposition of fees by the Government of Suriname on vessels using the Corentyne River.
The commission warned that the unilateral charges will “disrupt trade, increase costs for operators, and place Guyanese businesses and communities at an immediate disadvantage.”
The controversy centres on fees that Surinamese authorities have begun enforcing for vessels using the Corentyne River, which borders both countries, but falls under Suriname’s jurisdiction.
Business operators at Crabwood Creek report being required to pay approximately US$2,500 per trip under what Suriname classifies as a “pilot licence” requirement. On top of that, operators must engage Surinamese brokers at costs ranging between US$1,000 and US$1,500, with additional charges applied based on vessel tonnage.
The financial shock is being felt most acutely in river-dependent communities such as Orealla and Siparuta in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), where economic activity is almost entirely tied to sand mining, loam extraction, and timber production.
“That will greatly affect my community because Orealla depends on sand, loam mining and timber… this is where the majority of our revenue comes from and we don’t want that economic activity to slow down,” said Stuart Peneux, an Orealla resident.
The Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCCI) has warned of “catastrophic repercussions” for the local economy, noting that the added costs would inevitably be passed on to purchasers, rendering operations less competitive in the open market.
The PSC argued that Suriname’s actions go beyond a bilateral commercial dispute; they represent a fundamental breach of the ethos underpinning CARICOM and, more specifically, the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
The CSME, established through the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas in 2001, is built on the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people, with the explicit objective of removing fiscal, legal, and administrative barriers to trade, not creating new ones.
“These actions directly contradict the spirit of CARICOM and are fundamentally at odds with the principles of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, which are intended to promote the free movement of goods, fair treatment, and the removal of barriers to regional trade,” the PSC stated.
The commission characterised the move as “regressive” and “disruptive to business certainty,” at a time when the Caribbean region should be deepening integration and building confidence in cross-border commerce.
The rebuke carries particular weight, given that CARICOM leaders had only recently reaffirmed their commitment to addressing non-tariff barriers hindering the movement of goods across the region, making Suriname’s imposition of new charges a visible step in the opposite direction.
The PSC’s condemnation forms part of a growing chorus of alarm from Guyana’s business community. The Shipping Association of Guyana (SAG) warned that the proposed fees could have “adverse implications for trade and commerce” between the two countries, urging Surinamese authorities to refrain from introducing new charges until a mutually agreed solution is reached through formal negotiations.
The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) went further, calling on the Government of Guyana to halt all discussions on the development of the Corentyne River Bridge until the fees issue is permanently resolved.
“As a nation, Guyana must not continue to extend a hand of friendship without reciprocity,” the GCCI declared.
The GCCI also raised concerns about the broader bilateral relationship, highlighting ongoing challenges from what it described as “unfair and one-sided practices by Surinamese authorities” that have created obstacles for Guyanese businesses and fishermen, as well as the proliferation of counterfeit and illicit goods entering Guyana from Suriname.[
The commission urged state authorities to “engage the Surinamese authorities with urgency, firmness, and absolute clarity,” insisting that the removal of the fees and the restoration of a “fair and predictable operating environment” must be the immediate objective.
While affirming that dialogue must remain the first pathway, the PSC issued an unmistakable warning: if the measures are not reversed, the Government of Guyana must be prepared to implement “proportionate and strategic responses” to defend Guyanese businesses, safeguard livelihoods, and restore balance to the trading relationship.
“The principle of reciprocity is fundamental to fair trade, and where balance is not maintained, it inevitably invites proportionate responses,” the commission asserted.
The PSC framed the issue not as a commercial inconvenience, but as “a direct threat to enterprise, investment confidence, and the economic dignity of our people,” standing firmly with affected businesses, workers, and communities.
“A strong nation must stand up for its businesses, its workers, and its rightful place within the regional economy. On this matter, the PSC is unwavering,” the commission concluded.
