No agreement for Suriname to solely finance Corentyne Bridge – Govt

…rejects unilateral shift

…says no bridge financing discussions took place on May 15

The Guyanese Government has rejected claims by Suriname that it had been informed previously about the Dutch-speaking nation’s plans to solely finance the planned bridge across the Corentyne River that would link the two neighbouring countries.
“Contrary to the impression now being conveyed publicly, Guyana has never been informed through the established bilateral mechanisms that the Government of Suriname intended to assume sole responsibility for financing the bridge. Had such a proposal been formally advanced, Guyana would have considered it through the appropriate diplomatic and technical channels. No such proposal has been presented,” Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd clarified in a statement on Saturday evening.
This was in response to Suriname’s Foreign Affairs Ministry saying on Saturday that the financing of the bridge has already been a fixed part of the bilateral consultations between Suriname and Guyana for some time.
The Surinamese Ministry claimed that the matter was discussed during several engagements between President Dr Irfaan Ali and President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, even as recent as the virtual meeting held between the two Heads of State on May 15, 2026.
“During the latest discussions, Suriname clearly indicated its intention to assume responsibility for the financing of the bridge over the Corantijn River. It was also emphasised that, given the scale and strategic importance of the project, time is needed to carefully assess the various financing options and to arrive at a sustainable and responsible financial structure,” the Surinamese Foreign Ministry stated.

No bridge financing discussions
Responding to these claims, however, Minister Todd contended that the May 15 engagement between the two Presidents was convened at the height of the severe flooding affecting parts of Suriname – which Guyana offered to assist with by deploying a technical team from the Ministry of Agriculture, including specialists in drainage and irrigation, to support response efforts as well as to make available portable pumps and other technical expertise to assist in mitigating the flooding.
“Guyana wishes to categorically state that in the meeting held on May 15, there was no discussion on financing of the bridge or a signal of departure from the collaborative approach that has guided the project from its inception,” the Foreign Minister stated.
He reminded us from the inception in this initiative, the proposed Corentyne River Bridge has been conceived as a joint project. Todd further pointed out that given the structure’s cross-border character, it has always been understood by both Governments that the planning, financing, construction, operation and management of the bridge would be matters for joint consideration and agreement.
According to the Minister, this was reflected and confirmed in Suriname’s statement, which acknowledged that the Joint Technical Working Group has been mandated to continue discussions on the financial, technical, and operational aspects of the project.
“This is itself confirmation that financing has always been recognised as a matter requiring joint deliberation and agreement, rather than a unilateral determination by either party,” the missive from Todd detailed.
He went on to recall that dedicated bilateral discussions on the construction of the Corentyne River Bridge were formally advanced following the conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding in 2020 between the Governments of Guyana and Suriname during the administration of then-President Chandrikapersad Santokhi. Since that time, both Governments have consistently proceeded on the basis that the bridge is a shared strategic undertaking requiring joint planning and implementation.
“In keeping with that common understanding, Guyana and Suriname had jointly engaged prospective development partners with a view to securing financing for this important regional infrastructure project. Those joint efforts were premised on the recognition that the bridge serves the economic and social interests of both states and should therefore be developed as a genuinely bilateral initiative.”
“If the Government of Suriname has reconsidered its position on the financing arrangements, the appropriate course is not to communicate such a significant policy shift through public statements. Matters of this nature should first be raised directly with the Government of Guyana through the established bilateral framework, thereby allowing for a constructive exchange of views and a considered response,” Minister Todd posited.
Nevertheless, he reiterated that Guyana remains firmly committed to the realisation of the Corentyne River Bridge and continues to believe that the project should proceed on the basis of transparency, mutual respect, consultation and decisions reached jointly by both Governments.
According to Todd, the Government of Guyana stands ready to continue discussions in good faith through the agreed bilateral mechanisms with a view to advancing this transformational project for the benefit of the peoples of Guyana and Suriname.
It was previously agreed that both Guyana and Suriname would share the cost of the bridge construction, which was initially pegged at some US$300 million, in a 50-50 arrangement. The proposed Corentyne River bridge was designed as a high-span structure that will run approximately 3.1 kilometres, connecting Moleson Creek in Guyana to South Drain in Suriname, with a landing on Long Island in the Corentyne River, where a commercial hub and tourist destination will be established. That free zone will see major infrastructural development such as hotels, recreational parks, entertainment spots, tourist attractions, malls and farmers’ markets.
This joint bridge project is one of the first agreements that were signed between President Ali and former Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi in their August 2020 cooperation pact. At the time, both leaders underscored the critical role the bridge across the Corentyne River would play in advancing cooperation and creating more opportunities for development for the two nations. Since then, both Guyana and Suriname have settled on the Chinese construction company, China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), as the preferred contractor to build the new bridge. Meanwhile, stakeholders, including the Private Sector, have recognised that this proposed infrastructure would play a critical role in advancing cooperation, trade, tourism, and traffic between Guyana and Suriname, replacing the current ferry service between the two neighbouring countries.