Latest update November 17th, 2024 12:13 AM
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Guyana, Suriname discuss gold smuggling, exploitation of natural resources
Smuggling of gold between Guyana and Suriname were among the high points on the agenda last Friday when representatives of the two neighbouring countries met to discuss increased cooperation.
The delegations from Guyana and Suriname at the meeting.
The meeting between Guyana’s Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud, and his counterpart,
Jim Hok, also saw the discussion of deepening and strengthening of cooperation in the field of mining between the two countries.
The ministerial level meeting, in Suriname, was convened as a consequence of a mandate given by the President of Suriname, Desi Bouterse, and President Donald Ramotar.
A joint statement from the ministries disclosed that one of the key matters the Ministers discussed was the sustainable exploitation and development of natural resources and how the two countries could cooperate in those areas.
“Minister Hok and Minister Persaud agreed that there was mutual interest for Suriname and Guyana to work more closely together in the natural resources area and noted that there is a large potential for cooperation, ranging from knowledge and information sharing to joint educational and training programmes for the small scale mining industry of the two countries and in the development of the oil and gas exploration and exploitation sectors.”
Suriname has been engaged in oil drilling for years now, an area that Guyana has entered and is hoping to find success.
“The ministers exchanged views on the illicit trade in mineral resources emanating from Guyana, especially those sourced from small scale mining operations. The two Ministers agreed that a meeting between experts from the mining sector in Suriname and Guyana will be convened at the earliest mutually convenient date, to discuss in greater detail the areas of mutual interest in the mining sector.”
Experts in the two countries will now have to prepare an executable plan for cooperation in the natural resources sector for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
“The Ministers expressed satisfaction with the spirit in which their conversation took place and stated that they are confident that Suriname and Guyana will both reap tremendous benefit from cooperating in the field of mining and general natural resources development and exploitation.”
With a porous border, the two countries have been battling smuggling and illegal crossings for years now. Recently, there was a high profile case in Curacao and there are suggestions that the gold was smuggled from Guyana and Suriname.
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