Latest update July 26th, 2026 2:05 AM
Latest News
- Pres. Ali to unveil 5-member Int’l COI today to probe MV Barima disaster
- After six years of pumping oil, Guyana’s debt increased sixfold
- Other nations’ ministers stepped down following deadly ferry disasters
- Grieving mother calls on Govt. to subsidise airfares after ferry tragedy claims son
- GHRA demands Parliament-led COI into MV Barima sinking
Pres. Ali says Guyana–Suriname fishing licence talks ongoing despite broken promise
(Kaieteur News) – President Irfaan Ali has confirmed that discussions between Guyana and Suriname over long-promised fishing licences remain active, though the issue has grown more complex.
Speaking on Wednesday on the sidelines of a Guyana Defence Force event, the President told reporters the matter is still under negotiation. “That is an ongoing discussion. There are some changes that are occurring, but as you know, it’s a broader issue now that we are discussing,” he said. His update comes two months after Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha disclosed in Parliament that Suriname had reneged on a commitment to grant 150 fishing licences to Guyanese fisherfolk. Earlier reporting by Kaieteur News in February indicated the government remained hopeful that Suriname would honour the agreement.
President Irfaan Ali speaking to reporters at the event.
During the examination of the budget estimates earlier this year Mustapha was faced with questions from Member of Parliament, Vinceroy Jordan, to inform the House on when exactly the agreement would be signed. Minister Mustapha told the National Assembly that as a country, pride must be taken in supporting citizens and the previous administration is guilty of never pursuing licences for the Guyanese fisherfolk. “We had the courage and we went and we raised it? We had the undertaking from the government, not less a person than the President himself, and he’s only left to us because they made the commitment, we had it in writing…”
The minister explained to the House that the Surinamese government reneged on their commitment. “It was in writing and the Surinamese Minister of Agriculture wrote me to say that a government company was to be formed on their side, to issues these licences to the Guyanese fisherfolk. “So, we must not take advantage when our Fisherfolk are being harassed when they go out there to fish. Let us work together. Let us work as a team to get them (the) 150 licences (that) were promised by the Suriname authority to give to Guyana. They’re reneging it, and we are continuing to represent that issue,” he argued. Furthermore, he said the issue has been continuously raised at different forums across the region including the Caribbean Fishing Authority.
Share this:
Discover more from Kaieteur News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Similar Articles
2 thoughts on “Pres. Ali says Guyana–Suriname fishing licence talks ongoing despite broken promise”
Blunt of the day
Sports
Features/Columnists
Sir. Ronald Sanders
The GHK Lall Column
Weekend Cartoon
Since those Fishing Licenses from Suriname never materialized for Guyanese
Fisher Folk, the late SNATOKHI never took them top his grave.
Guyana’s Ali has now re-activated his claim.
And, all those years without legal fishing licenses, those fishes caught in
SURINAME WATERS, have been granted LANDED STATUS as Guyanese-
especially GILBACKAA, better known as GOLD- BACKAA..
Just like peoples of Venezuela, other countries…LANDED STATUS AS
GUYANESE.
The article ignored the fact that there is a new Suriname government, and this new government is not bound by interim agreements from the past led by the deceased Santoki.