Guyana to “step up” advocacy on Corentyne River fees imposed by Suriname – Pres Ali 

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Wednesday said that Guyana will soon be intensifying diplomatic efforts with the aim of addressing the fees imposed by Suriname for the use of the Corentyne River, which serves as a border between the two countries.
“In another few days, we will step up our advocacy in getting this matter sorted,” the Guyanese Head of State told the Guyana Times on the side-lines of an event in Georgetown on Wednesday.
Last month, it was reported that Surinamese authorities had imposed new fees on Guyanese vessels traversing the Corentyne River – a move that is affecting local timber and quarry operators.
President Ali was in Paramaribo on Tuesday for the funeral of former Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi.
The Guyanese leader told this newspaper that during his brief visit to the Dutch-speaking nation, he raised the issue with Government officials in Suriname.
“Yesterday’s [visit] was for a specific purpose; that was to pay tribute to President Santokhi, to honour the work and partnership that we had. That was the primary focus. But yes, of course, I raised the matter with the Minister of Foreign Affairs [in Suriname, Melvin Bouva],” Dr Ali indicated on Wednesday.
According to the Head of State, the Government has placed tremendous emphasis on this issue, and it remains a priority matter for the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry in Georgetown.
“So, every day, we are engaged with it,” the President added.
Only two weeks ago, President Ali had issued a diplomatic note to the Government of Suriname, protesting the imposition of the maritime fee. The Guyanese leader explained that the Foreign Ministry is handling this correspondence.
However, efforts by this publication to contact both the foreign Minister, Hugh Todd, and the foreign secretary, Robert Persaud, to ascertain whether there was a response from the Surinamese authorities to Guyana’s diplomatic note have been futile.
In that protest note, President Ali had indicated that Guyana expects Suriname will reconsider and ultimately desist from such actions that may be perceived as arbitrary or detrimental to the shared objective of deepening cooperation between the two countries.
While expressing hope that this matter would be “dealt with as friends”, the Guyanese Head of State had underscored the importance of reciprocity, reminding that Surinamese businesses have been enjoying a level of freedom and equity of access, like any local businesses, here.
In fact, during his remarks at President Santokhi’s funeral service on Tuesday in Paramaribo, President Ali subtly addressed the issue, noting that the former Surinamese President viewed the shared waterway as a passage of unity between the two countries, not as a border for discord.
“He believed that the fortunes of our two lands were braided together. He often spoke of the river not as a line between us but as a vein connecting two hearts, a passage of unity, not a border for discord,” President Ali expressed.
The Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation Ministry of Suriname had said in a statement last month that the application of maritime charges on the Corentyne River is not new and that the Dutch Government is open to bilateral dialogue and engagement with Guyana.
But already, communities along the Upper Corentyne region of Guyana are beginning to feel the weight of uncertainty as a result of the introduction of this new maritime fee, with those along river-dependent villages like Orealla bracing for a direct hit on their livelihoods. In fact, economic activity in Orealla is heavily tied to sand mining, loam extraction and timber production – industries that depend almost entirely on river access.
Moreover, the local Private Sector has been up in arms about the fallout that these new charges would bring to economic activity in Guyana as well as trade relations with Suriname. In fact, over the past week, several Private Sector bodies across Guyana had lamented the issue, warning about the impact it could bring.
On Saturday, the Shipping Association of Guyana (SAG) cautioned that proposed fees on Guyanese vessel operators could disrupt cross-border trade and harm economic ties with Suriname.
According to the association, such a move could have “adverse implications for trade and commerce” between the two countries.
Meanwhile, the umbrella business organisation – the Private Sector Commission (PSC) – called the fee anti-trade and harmful, adding that it also goes against the principles under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
“We have heard directly from our members. The impact is real, immediate, and damaging. From timber and quarrying to transport and river-based commerce, these unilateral charges are driving up the cost of doing business, weakening competitiveness, and placing additional pressure on livelihoods in communities that depend on the river every day,” the Commission noted.
The PSC further noted that dialogue must remain the first path, but the Guyanese Government must be prepared to implement proportionate and strategic responses to defend Guyanese businesses, safeguard livelihoods, and restore balance to the trading relationship if this matter is not resolved.