Suriname seh, President Ali seh

Jul 07, 2026 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

(Kaieteur News) – Suriname’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business, and International Cooperation (BIS)said:

“During the most recent discussions, Suriname clearly indicated its intention to assume responsibility for financing the Corentyne River bridge.”

Guyana’s Executive President Mohamed Irfaan Ali said:

“I have not received anything official, other than what’s already been placed in the media. 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.”

What am I to say?

In addition, Suriname’s BIS said that the bridge was discussed between Guyana’s and Suriname’s heads-of-state in Nickerie on September 13, 2025.

Further, Suriname said: the matter was discussed on the sidelines during the heads of governments of CARICOM meeting in Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis on February 24, 2026. The same one that American interloper Marco Rubio crashed.

Moreover, Suriname said: the matter came up for discussion again during a virtual meeting between the two national heads on May 15, 2026.

The ball in this he said-she said (literally) volleying is in Excellency Ali’s court.

What is there left for me to say? Not so much; just a little.

Personally, I’m usually for the home side. However poorly Manchester United, the New York Knicks, the New York Giants (and Brazil) do, I stick with them. Wellsprings of hope. There’ll be better times. Therefore, I stand next to my president, Excellency Ali. If he said it was so, it is so. And what did he say? “I have not received anything official…” Now “official” is a tricky word. Could mean one thing to Dr. Ali. May mean quite another to Excellency Geerlings-Simons. Recall that familiar statement: one man’s freedom fighter is the other man’s terrorist. Could be happening with this Corentyne Bridge that crumbles on Guyana’s side. Before one shovel turned. It’s something about which Pres Ali boasts expertise.

Confession time. Many will react terribly. I persevere. Pres Ali has said things that he hasn’t backed up. Remember unity, transparency, and accountability, six Augusts ago. Slipped his memory. Hanging. Despite public affidavit. I still have his back versus Suriname. Recall misinformation and disinformation (and anticorruption czar) one September ago. Anything done re information distortion? Where’s the czar? Regardless, Irfaan Ali is my president, suh I tekkin hee side in dis bridge business wid de dutch peeple. Admission: he hasn’t given me any trump (no pun) to manage a challenge. But loyal, patriotic soldier I am.

Considering what Surinamese asserted, there are mitigating factors. I tender as defenses of my beloved president. Does that sound like State media and PPP-awestruck superstars or what! First, the Nickerie bridge discussion was almost a year ago, damnit. Excellency Ali is overwhelmed; presides over the regional oil superpower. C’mon folks, give the Guyanese a break. Re the Feb 24, 2026 meeting in St Kitts, Secretary Rubio was there, which threw Dr. Ali upside-down. Who cares about bridge and CARICOM brothers, when a special American friend is in the neighborhood! Who would recall sideline chats about some li’l bridge now tortured by he seh-she seh? Americans have developed quite a reputation for casting that kind of spell on PPP leaders. Regarding Suriname’s reference to the May 15,2026 virtual meeting between the two presidents, I submit two points. The connection was unstable, yukky. And, it was during the PPP Govt’s nonstop extravaganzas celebrating Guyana’s Independence Diamond Jubilee. Hope I got that one right. Excellency Geerlings-Simons may have brought up the Corentyne Bridge, but the masquerade and Chutney bands on Guyana’s side of the room were blasting away. Either, Pres Ali didn’t hear about the bridge. Or that went over his head.

Suriname had better get its bridge act together. Guyana’s Ali has set his teeth: nothing “official”. Every time I hear a newborn baby cry…. Then I know why I believe….

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

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GHK Lall, Suriname, Suriname President Ali

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