GEORGETOWN/PARAMARIBO–Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett has expressed Guyana’s commitment to finding peaceful solutions to the border issue that still obtains with Suriname. The country’s National Communications Network (NCN) says that according to the Foreign Affairs Minister, Guyana is primarily focused on creating linkages with neighboring countries. Suriname and Guyana have a longstanding dispute regarding the Tigri area, a huge triangular shaped area in the southwestern part of Suriname.

“We should no longer hold hostage the development of helping and productive relations, as we seek to give priority to progressive issues that would link us rather than divide us,” Birkett was quoted. The foreign minister also noted the importance of diplomacy in dealing with border issues in which a number of personnel is being trained in this regard.

“In speaking with my counterparts in Venezuela and Suriname, we all agreed that borders should be lines of peace where friendship meets and not where division starts, “she said.

Birkett is not the first to raise the border issue in recent times. Previously, Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo insisted that Guyana should continue cooperating with Suriname, working together on many other fronts without them giving up its claim on the Tigri territory in the southwest corner of Suriname.

Jagdeo’s statements followed on President Bouterse’s June 7th statement that Suriname will be revisiting the issue of claim on the new river triangle with a friendly settlement approach based on international law. “Let’s be clear on this; the Tigri area is our land,” Bouterse said. Guyana may claim the area, but Suriname stays true to its claim and considers the Guyanese occupation of the disputed land trespassing.

Read more »

GEORGETOWN, Guyana–Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo has brushed aside attempts to resuscitate the border dispute between Guyana and Suriname as a focal point of the relationship between the two countries, Guyana’s National Communications Network has reported. According to the medium, the Guyanese leader has instead insisted that Guyana should continue with cooperation with Suriname, working together on many other fronts without them giving up its claim on the Tigri territory in the southwest corner of Suriname.

NCN reports that “the recent pronouncement by President Desi Bouterse to challenge the decree on the New River Triangle (Tigri) did not come as disturbing news to President Bharrat Jagdeo. The Guyanese leader pointed to the agreement that the two countries share on strengthening relations.”

NCN further reports that Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger luncheon at a media briefing on Wedneday told reporters that the issue is of insignificance given the relations the two countries share. “Its mere presence is not going to affect the rather burgeoning engagements that at the presidential level being cultivated between the two countries and I could attest to that” the Cabinet Secretary Said. Luncheon said specific attention was paid to the issue when the two leaders held a joint press conference last year.  “It’s there, you can’t ignore its existence but the small two developing countries can’t be locked into resolution or border issue between us, more fundamental collaboration”

President Bouterse told the National Assembly on June 7th that Suriname will be revisiting the issue of claim on the new river triangle with a friendly settlement approach based on international law. “Let’s be clear on this; the Tigri area is our land,” Bouterse said. Guyana may claim the area, but Suriname stays true to its claim and considers the Guyanese occupation of the disputed land trespassing.

The triangular shaped Tigri area in south west Suriname has been a point of dispute between the two nations since 1840. Both countries claim the zone between the Upper Corantyne, the Coeroeni and the Koetari rivers, known to the Guyanese as the New River Triangle. Suriname considers the area part of the Coeroenie area of District Sipaliwini, whereas the Guyanese consider it part of their East Berbice-Corentyne region. Since 1969, when Guyanese soldiers forcably claimed Tigri, the area has been under Guyanese rule, leaving the conflict simmering below the surface.

It sparked briefly in 2000, when Canadian oil company CGX started drilling in the disputed area with Guyanese authorization, and Suriname sent out its navy to stop operations.  Guyana and Suriname have since put their differences on the CGX issue aside and forged a new partnership agenda to a further concretization of relations.

Suriname also has a border dispute with east neighbor French Guiana.

PARAMARIBO–President Desi Bouterse wants a “friendly settlement” for the border dispute with Guyana. “Let’s be clear on this; the Tigri area is our land,” Bouterse said in the National Assembly on Tuesday. Guyana may claim the area, but Suriname stays true to its claim and considers the Guyanese occupation of the disputed land trespassing.

The triangurlar shaped Tigri area in south west Suriname has been a point of dispute between the two nations since 1840. Both countries claim the zone between the Upper Corantyne, the Coeroeni and the Koetari rivers, known to the Guyanese as the New River Triangle. Suriname considers the area part of the Coeroenie area of District Sipaliwini, whereas the Guyanese consider it part of their East Berbice-Corentyne region. Since 1969, when Guyanese soldiers forcably claimed Tigri, the area has been under Guyanese rule, leaving the conflict simmering below the surface.

Bouterse said even while the relationship with the Guyanese people is doing well, Suriname’s right to the land maintains. He said that Government intends to pursue international avenues and put to use all applicable rules and agreements in this case.

Suriname also has a border dispute with east neighbor French Guiana.

Ruth Wijdenbosch

PARAMARIBO – Veteran opposition Ruth Wijdenbosch, vice chairlady of The National Assembly has reacted surprised to the news of a Guyanese consulate in border District Nickerie and to the hush-hush surrounding Guyana’s President’s visit to Suriname today. She told online news medium GFC News that she will raise this matter at the next meeting of parliament.

“Everybody knows that Nickerie has numerous Guyanese residents. But are these people naturalized citizens? Or are their residence permits quietly renewed without involvement of Paramaribo; or The National Assembly for that mattter? Wijdenbosch, who represents the opposition National Party Suriname (NPS) of former President Ronald Venetiaan also placed question marks at the “mysterious” visit today to Nickerie by Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo.

Jagdeo and Suriname President Desi Bouterse are set to meet in the border district today, to discuss cooperation matters. Jagdeo is also scheduled to address his countrymen residing in Nickerie. “But why was The National Assembly not properly notified of the visit? The only matters of importance to discuss with Guyana is Tigri.”

Camp Tigri is located in a large piece of western Suriname, annexed by Guyana in the sixties and over which both countries have never settled ownership matters.

“As far as NPS is concerned, President Bouterse should talk about Tigri. That is why my party supported (former) President Jules Wijdenbosch. If that’s what Mr. Bouterse will discuss, he has our full support, because Guyana makes it seem as if Tigri fully belongs to Guyana.”