Use of Corentyne River

Last week, President Irfaan Ali issued a statement indicating that his Government had sent a diplomatic note to the Government of Suriname formally protesting their imposition of fees for vessels transporting timber and stone on the Corentyne River. The statement said: “It has been brought to my attention that the authorities in the Republic of Suriname have instituted charges for the use of the Corentyne River, particularly affecting timber and quarry operators. These reports represent a troubling development that has implications for economic activities and the long-standing arrangements between Guyana and Suriname…We have raised our concerns in the spirit of dialogue and mutual respect, mindful of the importance of preserving the cooperative and friendly relations between our countries.”
In our estimation, President Ali has struck an appropriately principled but pragmatic response by stressing the possible wider economic repercussions. “It is my sincere hope that, in the interest of sustaining and strengthening bilateral trade, fostering Private Sector development, and upholding the principles of good neighbourly relations, the Government of Suriname will give urgent attention to this issue. Measures of this nature risk creating unnecessary barriers to commerce and could undermine the confidence of businesses that rely on predictable and fair operating conditions.” The Surinamese have since responded by reiterating their “legal right” to charge fees for vessels using the river, but could apply for “waivers” which they claim they have previously issued for sugar from GuySuCo.
President Ali chose not to raise the question of sovereignty over the Corentyne River that  goes back to colonial-era arrangements, especially the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814, under which the Dutch retained control over the river and which the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the Guyana v Suriname arbitration 2007 tribunal implicitly accepted.
In our estimation, our Government should have the Surinamese agree to a binding agreement that guarantees non-discriminatory access to the Corentyne River in which Guyanese vessels should not face higher charges than presently applied – and certainly no arbitrary charges that actually are disguised restrictions on trade. We note the just-as-vexed issue of fishing licences for Guyanese operators where agreements are only observed in the breach and our fishermen have the possibility of always being arrested hanging over their heads like a sword of Damocles.
Against this background, in his initial statement, President Ali pragmatically invoked the principle of “reciprocity” in interstate dealings. “I wish to remind the Government of Suriname that Surinamese businesses and investors have long benefited from opportunities within our economy, where they have operated without discrimination or undue restriction. This openness has been a cornerstone of our engagement.
“Reciprocity remains a fundamental principle underpinning our relationship. We therefore expect that the Surinamese authorities will reconsider and ultimately desist from any actions that may be perceived as arbitrary or detrimental to the shared objective of deepening cooperation. Such steps are essential to ensuring that our relations continue to be guided by mutual respect and good neighbourliness.” In other words, two can play the “game” that Suriname appears to think our usage of the Corentyne River is and which is based on denying mutual economic benefits.
In this era where we have seized the initiative and moved ahead in the exploitation of our oil and gas resources that lie under the continental shelf of the Atlantic Ocean that we both share, Guyana has generously offered its help to Suriname,  especially in the use of its natural gas potential. Likewise we have actually taken a lead in the proposal to have a fixed bridge across the Corentyne River. It would appear that Suriname would insist that the Bridge across “their” river is also theirs and as such, we should insist they pay entirely for its construction and charge a fee for landing on our bank.