Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation (BIS) Minister, Melvin Bouva, says he wants to convene a meeting of the joint Border Commission of Suriname and Guyana as soon as possible to further discuss the Tigri issue.
The Tigri Area, known in Guyana as the New River Triangle, is a heavily forested, resource-rich, and historically contested territory in South America. It is centered between the Kutari and New/Upper Corentyne rivers and has been under continuous Guyanese administration since a 1969 border skirmish. The disagreement traces back to the 1800s and centers on a debate over which waterway forms the natural boundary between the two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries.
Speaking during the budget debate in the National Assembly on Monday, Bouva said that Suriname continues to formally protest every development in the disputed area, but that diplomatic protests alone will not resolve the dispute.
He was responding to questions from legislators regarding Guyana’s recent protest note in response to a map shown during a Staatsolie presentation, on which the Tigri area was designated as Surinamese territory.
Member of the Progressive Reform Party (VHP), Mahinder Jogi asked Bouva what steps were being taken to resolve the issue in Suriname’s favour.
Bouva said that Suriname continues to defend its sovereignty without reservation, adding ‘our interest is the Surinamese interest. We will safeguard, present, and stand behind our sovereignty as clearly as possible’.
He said Suriname, like Guyana had lodged an official protest against every relevant development even as he acknowledged that protest notes in themselves offer no solution.
‘All protests combined will not solve the problem,’ he said, adding that the solution lies in resuming consultations within the joint Border Commission.
He said Suriname has already appointed its representatives for this but is still waiting on Guyana.
‘The chairman of our Border Commission is ready. We are counting on Guyana to fill its committee so that the seventh meeting can take place. We will continue to press for this.’
Bouva told legislators that he had also spoken personally with his Guyanese counterpart, Hugh Todd, recently and that they had agreed to meet again during the upcoming CARICOM summit to be held in St. Lucia, July 5-8 to further discuss bilateral issues, including Tigri.
Bouva told the National Assembly he did not wish to elaborate publicly on the further diplomatic strategy and urged legislators to discuss the matter further in a closed meeting in which confidential information regarding national security and Suriname’s diplomatic position can be shared.
But Jogi questioned whether consultation solely through the Border Commission is sufficient noting that Guyana has initiated international legal proceedings in previous border disputes. He warned that Suriname should not remain passive, while Guyana, in his view, is actively strengthening its legal and diplomatic position.
Government legislator, Rabin Parmessar said that the government is actively addressing the issue noting that the Tigri issue was raised during the first meeting between President Jennifer Greelings-Simons and her Guyanese counterpart, Dr. Irfaan Ali.
He told legislators that during the Santoki administration, he had urged that Suriname draw much more attention to the Tigri issue, but little action was taken.
Another legislator, Dew Sharman said that Suriname should act more proactively, as Guyana, in his opinion, has little interest in convening the Border Commission, while government member, Ebu Jones said as far as for Suriname is concerned, this is not a disputed territory.
‘Tigri belongs to Suriname,’ he said, adding that the Border Commission has a broader mandate than dealing solely with the Tigri issue.