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All relations with Suriname ought to be severed
Dear Editor,
Amid the pervasive mass silence surrounding our serious border issues, we have lonely voices crying in the wilderness as to what the future outcome will deliver.
We know that oil and water do not mix. We also know that boundary lines exist to divide or define the limits of private property, government property, and, of course, sovereign territories.
The current embroilment regarding the presence of any non-Surinamese craft within the river east of the Guyana boundary seems to expose a certain discontent on the part of both parties.
There will be no dispute if this water space is declared a neutral space. To extend the Suriname position, they can park a war ship or gun boat right up to the limit of the river bank, and when tide recedes they will be on Guyana territory. Given the mood they gear themselves in, we may see this scenario early one morning very soon. This is no different from the Ankoko situation we now have.
The fact that no responses or two-way communication is evident could be a language difficulty, where messages to them are not presented in their official language.
It should be seen, therefore, that the seeds of this tension can be related to something created by two friends and are now being applied to distinct political entities.
There must be a no-man zone between these two states. They cannot enjoy the prerogative of parking up on my river bank and I have no recourse to do likewise.
It is Guyana’s unfettered right to enjoy an envelope of security surrounding its borders. I can see Ankoko and the Corentyne cases going to the World Court very soon.
Guyanese must be dissuaded from entering or crossing the Corentyne River by fully equipped border guards. All stellings and easements, docks and harbours are to be removed.
The opinion in Suriname could not be far off if they conclude that these “nutshell” boats making unauthorised crossings are not being subtly encouraged by Guyana.
The Guyana Government could put an end to this access for the entire length of the tidal reach of 45 miles in one day, if they are serious about saving lives. I state again here that a wall measuring 150 feet high and 40 feet wide has to be constructed for the entire length of the border river of 475 miles. Time and money are not to be considered as constraints to the completion of this project.
Does anyone want to count the many walls that have been built and are being built between nations?
This is one example among many where CARICOM affiliation serves no useful purpose. National interests will prevail over any treaty or agreement. All relations with The Republic of Suriname ought to be severed.
John De Barros
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