Suriname’s bid for Chinese funding gets Guyana government support
From Caribbean360
Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said “Guyana, at the request of Suriname, we have informed the Chinese Government that we are supportive of the bridge across the Corentyne River”.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Thursday February 6, 2014, CMC – Guyana says it has sent letters in support of efforts by Suriname for China to fund the construction of a bridge linking the two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries.
Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said “Guyana, at the request of Suriname, we have informed the Chinese Government that we are supportive of the bridge across the Corentyne River”.
She said the government has sent letters of ‘no-objection’ to the Foreign Affairs Ministries of Suriname and China for the construction of the bridge.
The Ramotar administration said that the “bridging of the Corentyne River that will link Guyana and Suriname remains a key area of focus for the Governments of both countries, and at present the structure’s design is being formulated”.
It said the bridge will be funded by the Chinese Government.
In 2010, then president Bharat Jagdeo and his Surinamese counterpart, Desi Bouterse signed an accord for a feasibility study on bridging the Corentyne River as the two countries pledged to pursue a closer working relationship.
The bridge was identified as one of the projects that would further physically integrate the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).
During a meeting in Suriname in 2012, President Ramotar and President Bouterse had agreed to move to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to seek joint financing for the bridge.
They reiterated the significance of building the structure, noting that it would considerably enhance trade and economic relations and cultural exchanges between the peoples of the two nations.
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