Latest update November 21st, 2024 1:00 AM
Suriname’s actions not supported by any known law – Foreign Affairs Minister
Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett
Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett has noted that while Suriname is claiming to have total control of the Corentyne River, the authorities there must be aware that this is only a ‘claim.’ The minister added that a claim is not a ‘right.’
On Thursday, Suriname’s Ambassador to Guyana, Manorma Soeknandan, told members of the media that the detention of the GuySuCo-leased vessel, Lady Chandra I, was not a show of force or a direct attack against Guyana’s right to use the Corentyne River.
In response, Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister said that Guyana has stated on several occasions that it was an act of aggression, taking into consideration the details of how the boat was detained and the charges instituted against the Guyanese people, including one for illegal immigration.
“So we maintain that if you come and take them to your country, how could they be charged for illegal immigration?” Minister Rodrigues-Birkett questioned.
The minister maintains the view that, in the absence of any agreement with Suriname on the river, Suriname cannot institute regulations without some sort of consultations with Guyana.
She explained that, in Guyana’s Note Verbale to Suriname, Guyana has indicated that this country is open to discussions.
However, according to the minister, Suriname has since responded to Guyana by saying that the Corentyne River belongs to Suriname, and that Suriname is free to institute regulations.
Suriname has also suggested that the border commission is a forum for the two countries to discuss border issues; but, according to Minister Rodrigues-Birkett, Suriname is supposed to be the one to issue imputations for the border commission, since Guyana held the last meeting in 2003, and it is now Suriname’s turn.
Suriname Ambassador to Guyana Manorma Soeknandan
And while Guyana is pushing for a diplomatic route out of the situation, the Suriname Ambassador has said that there is no need for a diplomatic route, since the vessel violated regulations.
She contended that diplomacy would be meaningless if the vessel detained is a Surinamese vessel. Ambassador Soeknandan said that the vessel detained was in excess of 50 gross tonnes and therefore needed to be escorted by a pilot out of Suriname. This, she added, was in keeping with a Suriname law enacted in 1981.
When asked for a comment, President Bharrat Jagdeo said that any law Suriname enacts would have no bearing on Guyana. “That is a law for Suriname. It is not a law for Guyana.”
On Thursday, the Suriname Ambassador had noted that the country would detain any vessel in breach of the 1981 law, which stipulates that any vessel above 50 gross tonnes in the Corentyne River must be escorted by a pilot attached to the Suriname Maritime Department. “The vessel in question weighed 375 gross tonnes.”
She said that, regardless of the registration of the vessel, “be it Chinese, or American, or Surinamese, the vessel would be detained once its captain ignores the use of a pilot once the vessel weighs above 50 gross tonnes.”
When asked about the application of this law in the past, Ambassador Soeknandan directed the reporters to the archives. However, there has been no such arrest in the Corentyne in recent memory.
When a reporter pointed this out to the ambassador, she insisted that there should be some research.
Research has shown that Suriname has detained vessels weighing far below the 50 gross tonnes stipulated, among them trawlers operated by Pritipaul Singh Holdings.
Yesterday, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett said that, “Well, we are neighbours, and I think there is a way good neighbours operate, and we have already indicated to them our position… they have indicated to us their position, but at the same time they are saying there is a forum where it should be discussed and let’s see what would be the next move.
“As you know, these are not issues that you can solve in 24 hours… We are looking at what’s before us, but we were thinking that we would have been able to engage and have this issue sorted out.”
The minister also said that, “We have been using that river for time immemorial, and obviously we have some rights.” She explained that the regulations being imposed on Guyana by Suriname are unacceptable.
“Let’s look at the practical situation. Are we saying that if a boat is in the river, more on our side of the shore, that if it is suspected to have any illegal drugs in it, and because Suriname put a regulation in place, we must call them, if that happens? Certainly we cannot accept those kinds of impositions on us,” the minister noted.
She explained that for a solution to be found on the disputed river, the matter will have to be taken to the International Court and Suriname will have to agree to it.
Meanwhile, as it relates to the diplomatic notes issued to CARICOM and the United Nations (UN) on the issue, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett said that while the UN has acknowledged receipt of the letter, no other response has been forthcoming as yet from the UN or CARICOM.
Suriname detained the Lady Chandra I last week, towed the vessel to a Suriname port, and locked up the crew until the owner paid a fine. The vessel was heading to Skeldon to uplift a cargo of sugar destined for a foreign port.
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