President Irfaan Ali said he has been made aware that authorities in the Republic of Suriname have instituted charges for the use of the Corentyne River, with particular impact on timber and quarry operators.
In a Facebook post, Ali described the development as “troubling,” warning that it could have wider implications for economic activity and for longstanding arrangements between Guyana and Suriname.
The President said the Government of Guyana has formally lodged a protest with Surinamese authorities and that it is currently awaiting a response. He said Guyana has raised its concerns in a spirit of “dialogue and mutual respect,” emphasizing the importance of maintaining cooperative relations between the two countries.
Ali added that he hoped Suriname would give urgent attention to the issue, noting that actions of this nature could create unnecessary barriers to commerce and undermine business confidence where operations require predictable and fair conditions.
He also said the Government of Suriname should be reminded that Surinamese businesses and investors have long benefited from opportunities in Guyana’s economy, operating “without discrimination or undue restriction.”
The President stated that reciprocity is a fundamental principle guiding the relationship and said Guyana expects Surinamese authorities to reconsider and desist from actions that could be viewed as arbitrary or detrimental to the shared goal of deepening cooperation.
Ali concluded that such steps are essential to ensuring Guyana-Suriname relations remain guided by mutual respect and good neighbourliness.
