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Guyana–Suriname relations

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Guyana–Suriname relations
Map indicating locations of Guyana and Suriname

Guyana
Suriname

Guyana – Suriname relations are the bilateral relations between Guyana and Suriname. Suriname has an embassy in Georgetown. Guyana has an embassy in Paramaribo. The Courentyne River makes up most of the border between the two countries.

History

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Embassy of Guyana in Paramaribo

Guyana and Suriname (along with French Guiana and Trinidad and Tobago) share many geologic, cultural and historical similarities, as well as their distinct position as West Indian societies estranged from the rest of South America. Historically, both countries were settled by the Dutch, and impacted by importation of slaves from Africa for the sugar industry. After the abolition of slavery, another wave of labor was brought in from Asia; mainly Indians to both countries, and Indonesians to Suriname alone.[1]

On 26 May 1966, the date of the independence of Guyana, the relation with the then Dutch colony of Suriname was normal, however it quickly deteriorated. In 1967, the Tigri Area conflict about a disputed area started[2] which accumulated in an exchange of gunfire without casualties on 19 August 1969 at Camp Tigri.[3] A maritime boundary dispute was resolved in 2007 under an arbitration by the United Nations International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.[4][5]

In the 2010s, the relationship improved. In 2016, a Parliamentary Contact Plan, was passed strengthening communication between both parliaments.[6] By 2020, the relation was described as excellent.[7] On 8 August 2020, Suriname President Chan Santokhi attended the inauguration of Guyanese President Irfaan Ali.[7][8] In August 2021, there was a state visit of Santokhi to Guyana.[9]

There is an ongoing unresolved territorial dispute between Guyana and Suriname regarding the Tigri Area.[10]

Diplomatic ties and organizations

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David A. Granger and Desi Bouterse at a CARICOM meeting (2012)

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 November 1975.[11]

On 26 May 1966, there was no embassy or consulate in Guyana, and the affairs where handled by the Dutch embassy in Haiti.[12] The Surinamese government postponed the opening of an embassy until there was sufficient normalisation of the relationship. In 1979, an embassy was established in Guyana,[13] which was temporary housed in the Pegasus hotel in Georgetown.[14]

Guyana was represented by a consulate in Paramaribo. On 25 November 1975, the date of independence of Suriname, the consulate was transformed into an embassy.[15] Guyana operates a consulate in Nieuw-Nickerie.[16]

Both countries are full members of: Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Group of 77, Group of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, Non-Aligned Movement, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Organization of American States, Union of South American Nations, and of the United Nations. Guyana and Suriname are both associate members of Mercosur.[17] Petrocaribe was launched in 2005 for cheap oil from Venezuela provided to member states and Guyana and Suriname are both members.[1]

Transportation

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MV Canawaima Ferry Service moves goods and people between South Drain and Moleson Creek.[18] A bridge across the Corentyne River has been considered to enhance trade and economic relations as well as cultural exchange between the peoples of the two countries.[19] In 2020, a Memorandum of Understanding was written between the two countries for the plan,[20] and Guyanese minister Juan Edghill and Riad Nurmohamed [nl], his Surinamese counterpart, placed flags to indicate the planned route.[21]

Another large scale collaborative effort is the construction of a US$ 1billion offshore base to support oil drilling in the Guyana-Suriname basin.[5]

Trade

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See also: Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce

In 2019, Suriname exported US$ 87 million worth of goods to Guyana with the main export product being refined petroleum.[22] Guyana accounted for 3.3% of the total exports.[23] In 2019, Guyana exported US$ 1.65 million to Suriname with the main exports being shipping and paper containers.[22]

References

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  1. ^ a b Hoefte, Rosemarijn; Bishop, Matthew L.; Clegg, Peter (2016-11-18). Post-Colonial Trajectories in the Caribbean: The Three Guianas. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-317-01405-8.
  2. ^ "Nervous neighbors: Guyana and Suriname". Stabroek News. 5 November 2008.
  3. ^ Silvia W. de Groot (1970). "Kroniek van een grensconflict". De Gids (in Dutch). p. 327. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Jamaica Observer Limited". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2021-01-02.
  5. ^ a b "Jamaica Observer Limited". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  6. ^ "Surinaamse en Guyanese parlementen verstevigen relatie". Star Nieuws (in Dutch). 8 October 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Suriname's Santokhi coming to Guyana for President Ali's inauguration". iNews Guyana. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Santokhi woont inauguratie Irfaan Ali bij in Guyana". Star Nieuws (in Dutch). 7 August 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  9. ^ "Vorderingen in bilaterale relatie Suriname-Guyana" (in Dutch). 21 August 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Guyana Journal | Historical". www.guyanajournal.com. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  11. ^ "Countries with which Guyana has Establishment Diplomatic Relations – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation| Co-operative Republic of Guyana". Archived from the original on 2019-02-16. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  12. ^ "Guyana en Nederland werken samen op med. terrein" (in Dutch). 15 May 1979. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  13. ^ "Surinaamse ambassade volgend jaar in Guy". Vrije Stem (in Dutch). 23 September 1978. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  14. ^ "Mevr. Ridder-Rustwijk wordt ambassaderaad in Guyana". Vrije Stem (in Dutch). 22 November 1979. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  15. ^ "Guyana aardig voor onafhankelijk Suriname". Trouw via Delpher.nl (in Dutch). 28 November 1975. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  16. ^ "Esther Griffith is Guyana's new Consul General to Nickerie, Suriname". iNews Guyana. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  17. ^ "With Guyana and Suriname all South American countries are Mercosur associates". MercoPress. Retrieved 2021-01-02.
  18. ^ "Guyana, Suriname reaffirm commitment to co-operation". CARICOM Today. 2020-10-19. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  19. ^ "Enhanced Guyana/Suriname relations fuelled by common goals – Luncheon". Kaieteur News. 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  20. ^ "MoU signed for bridge over Corentyne River". Stabroek News. 2020-11-25. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  21. ^ "President Santokhi kondigt de bouw van twee bruggen aan". Groen Rood Wit (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  22. ^ a b "Suriname/Guyana". Observatory of Economic Complexity. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  23. ^ "Suriname". Observatory of Economic Complexity. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
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