Corentyne farmers accuse Surinamese of blocking Corentyne River

By Andrew Carmichael

Farmers along the Corentyne River, in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), are accusing the neighbouring nation of Suriname of blocking access to the river, causing them to suffer huge losses.

Some of the fruit and vegetable farmers who spoke with
this publication

Some 60 fruit and vegetable farmers are complaining about the difficulties in getting their produce to the various markets. This action of blocking the Corentyne River has caused the produce to be left to spoil.
The farmers have also told Guyana Times that they cannot access the markets to purchase food and their reserves are drying up, with some of them already out of supplies.
The situation has come about owing to the military from the neighbouring Dutch-speaking nation putting a ban on travel in the Corentyne River, which is part of Suriname’s territory. However, it is the only access for persons from the Indigenous communities of Orealla and Siparuta along with those villages closer to the Guyanese town of Corriverton which serves as the economic hub of those communities. It is estimated that over 2000 persons are affected due to the restriction.
As part of measures put in place to restrict the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Suriname closed its ports like most other countries. This meant that travel on the Corentyne River was off-limits and remains off-limits until the country’s Government decides to lift the restriction.
Following several complaints, the Foreign Affairs Ministry intervened and brokered an agreement with the Surinamese Government so that the communities of Siparuta and Orealla – some 50 miles up the Corentyne River, can traverse the river to go about their business.
However, those attached to the Corentyne River Crop Farmers Association (CRCFA) do not fall under the concessions given to Orealla and Siparuta and are asking for some form of relief. The CRCFA comprises of farmers from Moleson Creek to Mopena Creek which is ten miles before Orealla.
The farmers would farm at random spots along the riverbank and have a total of 1000 acres under cultivation. They grow citrus, banana, plantains, pineapples and other fruits.
These farmers say that military personnel from Suriname who have been patrolling the Corentyne River have confiscated their boats and produce.
Toolchand Seemangal, who has 3000 citrus trees on his farm situated at Globertex, told this publication that he cannot take his produce to Corriverton. He said on one occasion, the Dutch-speaking soldiers pulled up alongside his boat and forced him to the corner where he made an escape, paying no regard for the thorns.
“I prefer tek the plimpa bore then tek the gunshot,” the man said.
He said that they risked being attacked by bees in order to save their lives.
Another farmer, Budnarine Lall, who also cultivates citrus, but at Canaburi Creek, claimed that the soldiers are not just stopping them from traversing the River but are also placing them in prison. This, he explained, is because they do not have permission to be on the River from the Dutch authorities.
Hundreds of citrus fruits from his farm are being left to spoil.
“We nah getting to bring it out. We can’t go in; we can’t travel in the River,” he said.
Lall is one of the farmers who live at Corriverton.
Secretary of the CRCFA, Shantaram Sugrim said since the announcement was made that the River will be closed, he has been in contact with both local and Surinamese authorities. However, he noted that it is very risky for farmers to chance going onto the River.
“I made contact with the Government and the Foreign Affairs Ministry said that they have made an agreement with the authorities of Suriname for Orealla and Siparuta to use the River but eventually we are left out,” Sugrim explained.
He said that they are left to wonder why the Surinamese Government refused the farmers access the River.
“The Government has tried to assist us but as recent as last weekend, the Surinamese say that they are not going to honour any agreement,” he noted while explaining that they continue to suffer financial losses.
“When we are out here we cannot take in the essentials neither the sick can come out. Presently we stand to lose millions and we do not know when the Surinamese will open back the River to Guyanese farmers,” the farmers’ representative noted.
“It will cost us millions of dollars to fix and the farmers are already losing. The wholesalers owe us about $2 million,” he added.
The farmers are calling for some form of assistance, noting that they will be forced to starve if action is not taken swiftly.
No one from Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry was available for a comment on the issue.