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President Desi Bouterse (R) swearing in Suriname’s newly appointed ambassador to Guyana, Nisha Kurban. Photo: Beta Debidien

By Ray Chickrie
Caribbean News Now contributor

NEW NICKERIE, Suriname -- In her acceptance speech in New Nickerie on Tuesday, Suriname’s newly appointed ambassador to Guyana, Nisha Kurban, promised to focus on Caribbean Community (CARICOM) integration.

"We will focus on what unites us and not what divides us,” she said.

President Desi Bouterse also stressed that it is integration and not problems that arose during the colonial period, referring to the border dispute between Great Britain and the Netherlands, which Guyana and Suriname have now inherited. Paramaribo still claims this piece of territory and considers it an integral part of Suriname.

Nisha Kurban added, "But I am convinced that the knowledge and experience I have gained over the past year and a half is a very good basis to find my way in the diplomatic world of today.”

The president of Suriname said a good basis for cooperation has been laid in 2010 when Bharrat Jagdeo was president of Guyana. This policy has been continued by his successor, Donald Ramotar, Bouterse added.

Bouterse praised outgoing ambassador to Guyana, Ms Soeknandan, who is from the VHP Party for an outstanding job of executing her post in Guyana. She will be retained in the foreign ministry as permanent representative to CARICOM.

The president also praised Nisha Kurban, and he introduced her as an example for the youth in the National Democratic Party. Bouterse noted that Kurban for many years was a party favourite.

She studied sociology and was posted at the Suriname Embassy in Brazil.

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