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The border question must be brought to a satisfactory conclusion

Feb 19, 2012 Letters

 

 

Dear Editor,
A formal communiqué has not been issued from the mini-summit between President Ramotar and his Surinamese counterpart President Bouterse, but what we know of the discussions so far is encouraging. One glaring omission so far is the question of our border dispute with Suriname.
I am hoping that the two leaders took some time during their meeting to address this issue that has been neglected and side-stepped for the last six decades. History tells us that the United Kingdom and the Netherlands reached an agreement on this matter in the 1940’s, but world events (World War II) prevented the consummation of a treaty.
Several starts and stops, minor and major hiccups and today this matter is still to be properly put to rest.
Mr. Editor in 1989 a mixed border commission was established to move the parties (Guyana and Suriname) towards a resolution. It is my understanding that this commission has not met for many years.
In June 2011 speaking to his parliament President Bouterse promised to pursue a peaceful resolution of the dispute; however the government of Suriname’s actions has been at odds with Bouterse’s rhetoric.  Guyanese scholar and a World renowned authority on security issues Dr. Ivelaw Griffith in his most recent work; Guyanese strategic culture: Leaders Leveraging Landscapes. December 2011. States that; “Perhaps the most significant development was Suriname’s presentation internationally, what they have long done nationally; show the New River Triangle as part of Suriname.
The occasion was the World Bank low carbon development strategy forum, held in October 2009 in Washington DC. Guyana’s feeble protested the audacious move but it was unable to secure the map’s withdrawal.
This reflects its relative diplomatic (and military) ineffectiveness” Professor Griffith went on to explain that this move was Suriname setting the stage for eventual de facto acceptance internationally of its cartographic definition of itself, irrespective of the status of the dispute or the de jure ownership of the Triangle.
In view of the forgoing I would hope that our head of state took the time to express to our neighbor that this was not the way to “peacefully resolve” this matter. I hope that Mr. Ramotar entered a strong but respectful objection to the Government of Suriname’s depicting itself inclusive of the New River Triangle on its official website.
It is my contention that for us to enjoy the mutual cooperation that is necessary for us to live and work as good neighbours, we must tie up the loose ends. Our Head of State and our diplomats must work assiduously to put this matter to rest.
Mark Archer

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