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Agri Minister optimistic new Suriname Govt. will grant license to Guyanese fisherfolk
Kaieteur News – Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha remains optimistic that the government of Suriname will grant Guyanese fisherfolk the long overdue license to operate.
The minister made the statement on the sidelines of the launch of Agriculture Month on Wednesday.
“I am optimistic that the new [Suriname] administration will be looking at that. You know, we had an agreement with the last government but they reneged on it so I am hoping that we can have that matter resolved. That is one of the matters we need to discuss, so I am hoping that we can discuss.”
Earlier this year, Minister Mustapha reaffirmed the commitment to government using diplomatic channels to secure 150 fishing licences for Guyanese fisherfolk from authorities in Suriname.
The two countries agreed in 2021 that 150 Guyanese fisherfolk would be granted licences from Paramaribo starting in January 20, 2025. However, the government backtracked on the agreement. The licences would allow Guyanese fisher folk to operate legally in the Corentyne River.
Back then, Minister Mustapha had explained that “150 licences were promised by the Suriname authority to give to Guyana… We have raised it with the Caribbean Fishing Authority. It is their [Suriname] prerogative to give us the fishing licence or not.”
He dismissed the opposition’s claims that the government was not acting decisively.
“They want us to go and force the Surinamese to give the fisherfolk licence…We are not running the government like that. We work through the diplomatic and international channels. We will continue to represent the fisherfolk,” he said.
The minister also criticised the APNU+AFC administration for failing to address the issue while in office.
“As a country, we must take pride in supporting our people. The APNU+AFC are guilty since they never raised the issue of licence for Guyanese fisher folk. We had the courage and we raised it,” he told the committee.
The agriculture minister stated that since taking office, the PPP/C government implemented measures to provide greater representation and support for fisher folk.
The administration’s commitment to developing the fishing sector is evident in the $1.7 billion allocated this year for its continued expansion.
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