Suriname, Guyana leaders pledge energy cooperation, advance border, trade talks

Suriname and Guyana have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the oil and gas sector, alongside renewable energy and electricity interconnection, as the two South American neighbours seek to deepen ties across multiple fronts.

The agreement followed a meeting today in Nieuw, Nickerie between Suriname’s President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons and Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali.

In a joint statement, the leaders said discussions centred on energy security, trade, agriculture and border management. They noted that joint ventures, investment and knowledge-sharing in energy would support national development priorities while enhancing regional resilience.

The presidents also spoke about the Corentyne River bridge, describing it as a transformative project for trade, tourism and connectivity in the Amazon region. Both sides pledged close coordination to resolve outstanding legal, technical and financial issues.

On border matters, Ali and Geerlings-Simons reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful settlement in accordance with international law, agreeing that the Suriname-Guyana Joint Border Commission would convene its long-delayed seventh meeting before year-end.

The talks also advanced cooperation in agriculture and fisheries, with a new joint commission of fisheries ministers, technical teams and stakeholders to be established before the end of 2025. Agricultural collaboration will continue under the Strategic Dialogue and Cooperation Platform (SDCP).

The leaders further underscored the importance of the Canawaima Ferry Service for border communities and cross-border trade, agreeing on the urgent need to improve its reliability. They also voiced support for a wider regional ferry initiative to enhance integration.

Reaffirming the SDCP as the primary mechanism for bilateral dialogue, the two leaders instructed their foreign ministers to follow up on all decisions.

In closing, Ali and Geerlings-Simons pledged to maintain the Caribbean as a zone of peace, strengthen cooperation within CARICOM and South America, and intensify efforts against transnational crime.

President Ali is greeted by Suriname’s President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons (OP photo)