Suriname and Guyana share the same likeness. Could they move into confederation?

Feb 11, 2024 Consumer Concerns, News

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CONSUMER CONCERNS…

By Pat Dial

Kaieteur News – In the last three years, Chambers of Commerce between Guyana and four or five foreign countries have been founded or resuscitated and among the most important of these is the Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce. At the end of January, the Suriname-Guyana Chamber elected its Board of Directors, the majority of whom are well-known persons who have interests in both countries.

These include Dr. Vishnu Doerga -Chairman, Mr. Deryk Klaverweide – Vice President,  Mr Mark Sookhai – Treasurer, Mr. Samuel Glasgow – Secretary with Directors Rogier Simson, Ms Alista Bishop, Mr. Sachin Pritipaul (Jr), Mr. Jimmy Manna, Ms. Charlene Tjon-Sien-Kie, Ms. Anuskha Sonai and Ms. Gaytri Rampersad with Mr. Rahul Lildhar as Chief Executive Officer.  The entire Board consists of executives of vibrant companies and are traditional business men and women except for Mr. Sam Glasgow who is a young, able  practicing lawyer  who will contribute the peculiar skills and cast of mind of his noble profession.

The Chamber, like the Corentyne Bridge, is a welcome addition to the many things which are bringing Suriname and Guyana closer. Guyana and Suriname were, over the last three centuries, one country longer than there were separate entities. Guyana was founded by the Dutch while Suriname was founded by the British and though they changed hands over the centuries, each imperial power left its stamp on them.  Suriname’s lingua franca, Sranam Tongo, once known as “Talkie-talkie” or Neger Engels, for example, is an English Creole and could easily be understood and spoken by any Guyanese who live in Suriname for a few months. This came about because Suriname was founded by the English.  And up to the early 19th century, Suriname Dutch was spoken along the Guyana rivers and today, there are still many Dutch words in Guyanese speech.

In 1667, the Dutch who had owned what is now New York had captured the English colony of Suriname, and at the Treaty of Breda, decided to give New Amsterdam (later New York) to the English in exchange for Suriname and Suriname remained Dutch from that time. Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice continued to be Dutch until 1815 when these colonies were surrendered  by the Treaty of Paris to the British who united them and  named them British Guiana.  Both Guyana and Suriname therefore shared many common influences in the formation of their Social, Economic and Cultural life and this results in Guyana and Suriname being very much in the image of each other.

It would be apposite to further elucidate the theme of Guyana and Suriname being much in each other’s image:  The geography of Suriname and Guyana is the same – mountains, rivers, forests, drainage and irrigation problems; their economies used to be based on rice and sugar and then bauxite and today it is oil but they are both determined to avoid “Resource Curse” and are striving to keep their economies diversified. Their histories of Slavery and Indenture, though not identical, are similar and these forces have shaped the ethos and the racial composition of their populations with their folk cultures being much the same. Though their official languages are English and Dutch, the ordinary Surinamese and Guyanese find it very easy to communicate with each other. Though Suriname uses the Civil Law and Guyana uses the English Common Law, their legal assumptions are essentially the same; indeed, until 1914, Guyana used the Civil Law and Surinamese lawyers sometimes practised in Guyana.

The Constitutions of Guyana and Suriname do not differ much from each other and Guyanese and Surinamese fit very easily into each other’s country.  Until the first half of the 20th century, thousands of Surinamese emigrated to Guyana and they were quickly assimilated and in Corentyne, many families live on both sides of the border.  Likewise, from the beginning of Guyana’s economic collapse in the 1960’s, it is estimated that between 60,000 to 70,000 Guyanese emigrated to Suriname to escape the hardship in their country and these were received with kindness and full acceptability and quickly  integrated into Surinamese society.  This is not strange since Guyanese and Surinamese instinctively recognise their sameness.

Guyana and Suriname could cooperate far more closely than they do today as this will bring greater social, economic and political benefits to both territories. Indeed, the time may have arrived for the two territories to form a Confederation, as distinct from a Federation, within CARICOM. It should be recalled that it was the West Indies Federation which was transformed  into CARICOM, a mere economic union. A Confederation is a looser union than a Federation and allows for greater individuality to accommodate those small numbers in either territory who may have reservations regarding a closer union. It will be a creative step if, in the Foreign Ministries of both countries, an officer or small unit is specially charged with working towards all facets of closer relations.

 

 

 

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• Mr Mark Sookhai - Treasurer, Mr. Jimmy Manna, Mr. Sachin Pritipaul (Jr), Mr. Samuel Glasgow - Secretary with Directors Rogier Simson, Ms Alista Bishop, Ms. Anuskha Sonai and Ms. Gaytri Rampersad with Mr. Rahul Lildhar as Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Charlene Tjon-Sien-Kie, Vice President

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