Surinamese President for 4-day State visit this week

…discussions on strategic dialogue, cooperation pact, COVID-19 impact on agenda

President of neighbouring Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi will lead a high-level delegation for a four-day visit to Guyana next week.
This State-visit is as a result of an invitation extended by President, Dr Irfaan Ali. It follows President Ali’s visit to the Republic of Suriname in November 2020, during which the two Heads of State launched the Guyana-Suriname Strategic Dialogue and Cooperation Platform (SDCP).

According to a statement from the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry on Saturday, the two leaders will review the progress made thus far under that mechanism in the areas of foreign policy coordination and political dialogue, environment, health, infrastructure and transportation, agriculture, immigration, customs, security and private sector enhancement.
In addition, the two Presidents will also discuss priority issues on the Caribbean Community (Caricom) agenda as well as the economic and social repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on their respective countries.
This sustained engagement between Presidents Ali and Santokhi is testimony to their shared vision and commitment to converging the collective energies of the two countries for the benefit of the citizens of both countries and the region as a whole.
President Santokhi will be accompanied by First Lady, Mellisa K Santokhi-Seenacherry, and a high-level delegation during next week’s visit. This includes: Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation Minister, Ambassador Albert R Ramdin; Natural Resources Minister, David Abiamofo; Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister, Parmanand Sewdien; Public Works Minister, Riad Nurmohamed; Transport, Communication and Tourism Minister, Albert E Jubithana; representatives of the State Oil Company of Suriname and members of the Private Sector out of Paramaribo.
The relationship between the two neighbouring leaders was cemented in August 2020 when President Santokhi visited Guyana for the inaugural ceremony of President Ali.
During that visit, the two Presidents engaged in a series of meetings with stakeholders on a number of issues. In fact, the Guyanese and Surinamese Presidents met with members of the Guyanese Private Sector and diplomatic community during which business and commerce opportunities, among other mutual areas of benefit, were discussed.
As newcomers in the oil and gas sector, the two countries are looking to tap into each other’s Private Sectors to peddle sustainable development and further strengthening bilateral ties.
President Ali had said at the time that Guyana and Suriname must not compete but complement each other as they embark on this new development trajectory.
Meanwhile, during President Ali’s reciprocal visit to Paramaribo last November, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to facilitate the joint bridging of the Corentyne River.

Both Presidents had underscored the critical role that a bridge across the Corentyne River could play in advancing cooperation and joint activities and ventures in all the areas mentioned.
It was reported last month that 38 bids were received and jointly reviewed by the two countries and eight bidders were eventually shortlisted.
Suriname news agency Waterkant had reported these bidders as: China Road and Bridge Corporation (China), EGIS (France), Exp Services Inc, Pedelta, Arcadis, CEMCO (Canada, Spain, Netherlands, Guyana), FIGG/Sunecon/SRKN’gineering & Associates/E&A Consultans/P-ALL Consultants/Environmental Management Consultant (United States of America), Politecnica and Rina JV/ILACO/SRKN’gineering & Associates (Italy, Suriname, Guyana), SYSTRA International Bridge Technologies Inc/AP&G Consultancy Suriname NV/Delta Marine Consultants/Deltares (Dubai, Suriname, Netherlands),TYPSA/Leonard, Andra und Partner GmbH/FIRM (Spain, Germany, Suriname) and WSP Caribbean Ltd (Trinidad). (G3)