Suriname rebuts Guyana on Corentyne bridge

Jul 05, 2026 News

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…says Pres. Ali was told of funding plan last month

(Kaieteur News) – The Government of Suriname has publicly contradicted President Irfaan Ali’s assertion that Guyana has received no official communication about Paramaribo’s intention to finance the proposed Corentyne River bridge, insisting that the matter was clearly conveyed during several high-level bilateral engagements.

In a statement issued by Suriname’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation (BIS), the government said its intention to fully finance the bridge has been a standing topic in discussions with Guyana and was explicitly communicated to President Ali.

According to the ministry, the matter was discussed during the meeting between the two heads of state in Nickerie on 13^th September, 2025; a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in Saint Kitts and Nevis; and a virtual consultation between the two presidents on 15^th May , 2026.

“During the most recent discussions, Suriname clearly indicated its intention to assume responsibility for financing the Corentyne River bridge,” the ministry said, adding that given the scale and strategic importance of the project, time is needed to carefully assess financing options and reach a sound arrangement. The ministry said these principles, along with Suriname’s intention to finance the bridge, were reaffirmed during the most recent bilateral consultation between the two heads of state. It was also agreed that technical working groups would jointly develop the financial, technical, and operational aspects of the project, including its future operation.

Ali says no official word received

Speaking on the sidelines of a swearing-in ceremony for puisne judges on Wednesday, President Ali maintained that Guyana’s position remains unchanged and that the bridge remains a bilateral initiative.

“I have not received anything official, other than what’s already been placed in the media,” Ali said. “The Corentyne River bridge is a bridge that is being discussed jointly as a joint project by the Government of Guyana and the Government of Suriname. Guyana is interested in being part of a project that covers two sovereign states in a joint manner. That has always been our vision.”

Ali also said river operations remain unaffected by the diplomatic exchange, noting he had confirmed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that no recent complaints had been reported by operators or users of the river.

The disagreement followed comments from Surinamese Minister of Public Works and Spatial Planning Stephen Tsang, who announced during a parliamentary budget debate that Suriname would bypass the shared bilateral framework and finance the bridge independently. According to Surinamese outlet Star Nieuws, Tsang told legislators the government had decided to finance the bridge entirely on its own, stating, “It must and will be a Surinamese bridge.”

Tsang acknowledged that solo financing would effectively reset the project’s timeline, and that depending on the financial model chosen by Suriname’s Ministry of Finance — which is exploring toll mechanisms — a new international tender process may be required.

Ali indicated that his administration does not consider a minister’s parliamentary remarks an official change in state-to-state policy. He said he was operating on recent commitments made directly to him by Surinamese President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, who he said had assured him that Suriname was simply finalising its side of the existing 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 said, adding that he would “pronounce decisively” if an official request to alter the agreement is made.

Guyana’s Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, declined to add further comment when approached. “The president has already commented, I have nothing further to say on the matter,” he said.

The proposed 3.1-kilometre bridge across the Corentyne River is intended to replace the ageing ferry connection between South Drain, Suriname, and Moleson Creek, Guyana, linking the two oil-producing neighbours with eventual connections to French Guiana and Brazil. Last year, both heads of state issued a joint statement describing the project’s “transformative potential” for regional trade, tourism, and connectivity within the Amazon region.

The Surinamese Public Works Minister has not clarified how the announced shift to solo financing would affect existing bilateral treaties governing the project.

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• Corentyne bridge, Paramaribo, President Irfaan Ali, Suriname

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