Guyana, Suriname working to better monitor cross-border activities

…collaborating to clamp down on smuggling, backtrack travel

While their respective borders are closed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Guyana and it’s eastern neighbour, Suriname, are working to better monitor activities between riverine communities on either side of the border.
This was communicated in a statement released by the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Tuesday, in which it revealed that a video conference meeting was held between officials from the two sides, to come to an agreement on collaborating against coronavirus.
It was, however, not revealed, who were the ‘officials’ that represented Guyana during the meeting.
“The two sides also discussed the need for cooperation in the areas of health, security, immigration and social protection, to strengthen both their national and collective responses to the crisis caused by the global pandemic,” the statement said. It also noted that during the meeting, both sides highlighted their successes and challenges of managing the disease on the medical front and agreed to establish a mechanism for information sharing between their health personnel.
It was explained that even as the borders remain closed in an effort to prevent imported coronavirus cases, activity still has to go on between riverine communities on both sides of the border.
As such the parties agreed to immediately implement measures to ensure that riverine communities are able to commute and conduct their businesses, to and from points within their respective countries, under proper surveillance in order to ensure that the protocols to combat the spread of COVID-19 are not compromised.
“The two sides emphasised that the arrangements that have been put in place will respect the fact that their respective borders remain closed and that their nationals must not endeavour to enter into the territory of the other,” the Ministry said in its statement.
Guyana’s border with Suriname has always presented issues, ranging from the smuggling of commodities to the use of the backtrack and even piracy, with pirates slipping back into their respective countries after committing their crimes. According to the Ministry, smuggling and backtrack travel were some of the issues addressed during the meeting.

Information sharing
According to the statement, the parties have established a mechanism for information sharing between the relevant institutions and agencies of the two countries to allow for the conduct of legitimate movements on the Corentyne River and to prevent illegal activities, including the movements of persons and goods between the two countries.
As of April 20, 2020, Guyana has 67 cases of coronavirus and seven deaths. Suriname, which recorded its first coronavirus case shortly after Guyana, is reported by Reuters to have one death and 10 cases.
Among the measures Guyana has taken is the shutting down of the airspace to anything but cargo planes. Passenger planes require special permission to land. In addition, Guyana has also closed its borders with neighbouring countries.