Fishing licence talks stall as Guyana awaits Suriname visit to resolve issue

President Dr Irfaan Ali has confirmed that Guyana is still awaiting a follow-up visit from Suriname’s new Government, as efforts continue to resolve the long-standing issue of fishing licences for Guyanese fisherfolk operating in Surinamese waters. Speaking with Guyana Times, President Ali said discussions had already begun with Suriname’s new administration, but the next step in the process had not yet materialised.

“Well, you know there’s a new Government in Suriname, we met with the new Government in Suriname, and we’re supposed to have an exchange visit back from that Government with us, so we’re still awaiting that visit,” the President said.
“But we are consistently working with our fisherfolk and the authorities over there.”
The President’s comments come against the backdrop of years of uncertainty for fishing communities along the Corentyne and Berbice coasts, where hundreds of families depend on access to traditional fishing grounds that fall within or close to Suriname’s maritime jurisdiction. Under Suriname’s existing legal framework, fishing licences are generally issued only to Surinamese nationals or companies, leaving Guyanese fishermen unable to obtain licences directly. This has forced many to rely on costly arrangements with intermediaries, significantly increasing operational expenses and cutting into already thin profit margins. Although previous bilateral engagements had resulted in assurances that a special allocation of licences would be granted to Guyanese fishermen, those licences were never delivered. Fishing associations in Region Six have repeatedly said that the prolonged delay is placing livelihoods at risk. The Government of Guyana has maintained that the matter has to be handled through diplomacy and cooperation, given the importance of preserving strong relations with Suriname while protecting the interests of Guyanese citizens.