Guyana, Suriname places border dispute on back burner -commits to more trade, Corentyne River bridge

Jul 05, 2016 News

President David Granger and President Desi Bouterse during Friday’s visit

Guyana and Suriname remain committed to building a bridge across the two countries with the issue raised during a one-day visit by President David Granger on Friday.
Suriname’s De Ware Tijd newspaper reported also that a simmering border issue between the two countries is not a priority.
Rather, the governments are looking at ways to increase trade and travel.
While Government has not yet updated Guyana on the visit, according to the Surinamese newspaper, the two leaders during a press conference on Friday in Nickerie, said that they want to capitalize on the economic potential of the two neighbours.
There are thousands of Guyanese living in Suriname with significant trade conducted through the Corentyne border area.
Surinamese nationals, like Guyanese, have been moving freely through the border area, via boats and a ferry that operates across the Corentyne River.
A few years ago, talks started between the two countries for a bridge across the Corentyne River.
Guyana has already earmarked an area in the Moleson Creek, Corentyne area where the bridge would land.
A road was earmarked to be built to that area.
Suriname had promised to find financing for the bridge.
However, a simmering border issue has been threatening time and again. It has to do with an area called the “New River Triangle” which is controlled by Guyana since the 60’s, but claimed by the neighbouring country.
According to President Desi Bouterse, the border dispute is over 80 years old and therefore “cannot be resolved within 80 minutes.”
Rather, it was stressed, the two countries are looking for ways to ensure that the legacy of the Netherlands and Britain does not jeopardize the future of Suriname and Guyana.
“We know it is a problem, but we are convinced that there are possibilities to address the border issue without considering the river as something that separates us, but rather be seen as something that unites us,” Granger said.
That is why he is in favour of a bridge over the Corentyne River, allowing passengers and goods between the two countries to be facilitated, with it being used for the benefit of both countries.
There should be a legal solution on the border issue, the newspaper quoted Granger as saying.

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