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Suriname pulls out of joint Corentyne bridge project
…stumped Pres. Ali says “that’s news to me”
(Kaieteur News) – The government of Suriname has unilaterally scrapped its joint infrastructure venture with Guyana, announcing it will fully finance and manage the construction of the planned Corentyne (Corentyne) River Bridge on its own.
The announcement, delivered late Monday by Surinamese Minister of Public Works and Spatial Planning Stephen Tsang according to Surinamese news outlet Suriname Nieuws, caught Guyanese authorities entirely off guard.
President Irfaan Ali and Surinamese President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons during their engagement in 2025.
Speaking exclusively to Guyanese media outlet Demerara Waves on Tuesday, Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali responded to the declaration, stating, “That’s news to me”.
Minister Tsang revealed the change of course in the National Assembly during a parliamentary budget debate.Responding to questions from opposition VHP party leader Asis Gajadien regarding the project’s stall, Tsang declared that the government would bypass the bilateral framework entirely. “The government has decided to finance the bridge one hundred percent itself,” Tsang told legislators.”The fact is that it must and will be a Surinamese bridge,” he said.
The minister conceded that the decision will effectively reset the project’s timeline.Depending on the ultimate financial structure chosen by Paramaribo, a new international tender procedure will likely be required.Tsang indicated that the Ministry of Finance is actively evaluating various solo models, including potential toll collection mechanisms.
In Georgetown, President Ali made it clear that his administration continues to recognise only the original bilateral treaties.
An artist’s impression of what the Corentyne River Bridge should look like
President Ali told Demerara Waves that he was operating under explicit commitments made directly to him by Surinamese President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons. Demerara Waves reported that President Ali said Geerlings-Simons recently assured him that Suriname was simply finalising its side of the existing shared legal framework, while Guyana had already completed its administrative preparations.
“There is only one thing we’re interested in and that is the joint development of the bridge and that was the arrangement from day one,” Ali stated.
The Guyanese head of state heavily downplayed Minister Tsang’s parliamentary remarks, signaling that Georgetown does not currently view the minister’s statement as an officially communicated or binding change in government-to-government policy. The proposed 3.1 kilometer Corentyne River Bridge is widely viewed as a critical economic linchpin intended to physically link Suriname, Guyana, and eventually French Guiana and Brazil.Intended to replace the aging ferry connection between South Drain and Moleson Creek, the $236 million megaproject was designed to accelerate trade, tourism, and energy corridor connectivity between the neighbouring oil-producing nations.Just last year, both Presidents Ali and Geerlings-Simons issued a joint statement hailing the “transformative potential” of the project.
“With regards to the bridge between Suriname and Guyana, over the Corantijn (Corentyne) River the two Leaders recognized the timely advancement of the transformative potential for trade, tourism, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges. They agreed to continue close coordination to address outstanding legal, technical and financial matters. They recognise that this bilateral initiative is also an integral part of the interconnectivity within the Amazon Region,” the joint statement said.
Suriname Nieuws further reported that Minister Tsang declined to clarify what specific ramifications this sudden financial decoupling will have on current bilateral treaties or if any diplomatic warning was given to Guyana.
The official response from Guyana’s Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill to Kaieteur News was brief, with the minister stating only, “The President has already commented, I have nothing further to say on the matter.”
Efforts made to contact President Ali and Senior Minister within the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance Ashni Singh on the matter proved futile.
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2 thoughts on “Suriname pulls out of joint Corentyne bridge project”
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When the idea for this joint bridge came public…. I TOLD YOU SO…
I warned Ali, Suriname will eventually claim outright ownership.
Now, if this news is anything… it showed the desire of Suriname to
own the bridge completely, build and collect TOLLS.
They charge, collect fees to travel in the Corentyne River.
Guyanese have to use their ship at Moleson Creek to pay, cross.
As for the River…as far as the water rises on Guyana’s shores, the Surinamese
claim ownership…
How in the dickens, can Ali’s brainwave come up with Joint build of the
elusive CORENTYNE RIVER BRIDGE ?
Suriname make a good decision