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Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo (L) and Surinamese President Desi Bouterse speaking to the media during a press conference

GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- Guyana and Suriname have agreed on a new mechanism to advance co-operation and the bridging of the Corentyne River linking the two South American and Caribbean Community (CARICOM) neighbours.

This was revealed at a join press conference on Monday following a meeting between Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo and his Surinamese counterpart president Desi Bouterse, who was on a one day state visit to Guyana.

The two leaders, after a closed-door meeting for several hours, told the media that they have seen the political will to ensure that the two sides push their cooperation forward and highlighted a number of areas of cooperation to advance the development of the peoples of Suriname and Guyana.

“Bridging the Corentyne river, combating climate change and working together on that because we are all affected by the new pact of climate change and we also have major asset to deal with mitigation of the problem that is our pristine rain forest, so there is much in this area that we can cooperate on, crime and security, health, because health issues don’t stop at the border, information technology, natural resources area, mining and minerals, fisheries agriculture energy tertiary education,” Jagdeo outlined in a post visit press conference.

Jagdeo explained that while border relations are important for development, the relations between Guyana and Suriname must go beyond that and will be approached with a changed philosophy.

He added that new mechanisms have been devised to advance this cooperation and will report directly to the presidents of Guyana and Suriname.

Surinamese president Desi Bouterse meanwhile said Guyana and his country have a lot common

“We are more attracted to Guyana because we share the same border , we have the same natural resources and in the past we have done so less as Suriname and Guyana to take the opportunities to get a grip of these two countries to bring our up to a high level.” the Suriname president explained

A key project during the discussions is the bridging of the Corentyne River that will link the two countries.

Jagdeo said while such a structure falls under the wider infrastructure programme of the union of South American nations, the two countries have agreed to advance this initiative at the bilateral level, adding that “the reasons are pretty clear, the president of Suriname mentioned free movement of people, good,, services tourism, a whole range of developmental impact… so the work of advancing the bridge is important for both Guyana and Suriname.”

The two heads have agreed to that a feasibility study will be conducted shortly to determine the economic benefits of the project.

But a key question remains -- financing for the project -- and both presidents have stressed that financing will be addressed but what is needed now is the political will -- something that both sides have indicated their willingness to pursue.

This is Bouterse's first official state visit since he assumed office in Suriname last month.

He is also scheduled to visit Brazil and the United States shortly.

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