Granger’s one-day lightning visit to Suriname… Two countries recommit to friendship, integration process

Jul 03, 2016 News

President David Granger and Suriname’s leader, Desi Bouterse, during the meeting on Friday.

The lightning visit by President David Granger to Suriname Friday was mainly aimed at strengthening the mutual relations between the governments of Guyana and Suriname.
According to Suriname’s newspaper, De Ware Tijd, a press conference was held Friday afternoon in bordering Nickerie to discuss the visit.
President Desi Bouterse explained that because virtually all the attention of the government has gone recently to addressing national issues, foreign policy was somewhat neglected.
President Granger disclosed that a commitment was made to meet again after he had visited Suriname last August during the inauguration of President Bouterse.
Given the busy period around the elections and what then followed, the idea was to revive the friendship and to continue with the integration process, Granger explained.
He stressed that Suriname and Guyana with their combined resources represent a “powerful economic element” within CARICOM. Heads of Government are expected to meet from tomorrow in Guyana.
De Ware Tijd quoted President Bouterse as stressing that there are opportunities to work more closely with Guyana as in the fields of agriculture and education and at the CARICOM level.
Granger was informed by Bouterse of the decision of the Court Martial on June 9 and the developments that occurred afterwards.
“He found it necessary to let neighboring and friendly nations to get a picture of what took place, and not only on the media,” the news report said.
President Granger told reporters that the coming months will see a stronger commitment to address problems in these relations “in a free and friendly atmosphere”.
The two countries have been conducting brisk trade over the years with thousands of Guyanese living in Suriname.
There have been talks between the two countries to build a bridge across the Corentyne River.
However, there has also been a simmering border claim by Suriname for part of the Corentyne area.

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