President Ali for 3-day State visit to Suriname

Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali commenced a three-day official visit to neighbouring Suriname on Monday to mark that country’s 45th independence anniversary and to engage in bilateral talks with Government officials there.

According to a report by Starnieuws, the President’s visit was confirmed by Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Business and International Cooperation, Albert Ramdin.
The Guyanese Head of State and his Surinamese counterpart, Chandrikapersad Santokhi will sign several cooperation agreements after a formal meeting on Tuesday, according to news reports out of Suriname.
The Guyanese Head of State will be the only guest to address the National Assembly in an extraordinary public meeting on Wednesday.
President Ali will also visit Staatsolie, Suriname’s State oil company. According to Starnieuws, the festivities will be held under strict protocol, taking into account COVID-19.

The Surinamese Head of State had visited Guyana back in August for the inauguration of President Ali.
In an update on their meeting in August, President Ali had indicated that the engagement between the two Heads of State was extensive, covering multiple sectors, and was aimed at strengthening the existing relationship between Guyana and Suriname.
The talks also focused on “opening up emerging sectors and infrastructural link that can create opportunities for us and our human resources”, Dr Ali had said.

In a release to the media late Monday, it was revealed that President Ali would engage in discussions with his counterpart to build on the issues advanced during the visit of President Santokhi to Guyana.
The two leaders are expected to finalise agreements to advance the proposal for the construction of the Corentyne River Bridge and establish a new mechanism for enhanced dialogue and cooperation.
The President will be accompanied by a high-level delegation who will also be engaging in discussions in several other areas of cooperation.

President Ali said that both nations faced “similar challenges, circumstances and opportunities, as such, it is very critical and important for us to work together to find common solutions, to collaborate and to support each other in tackling the challenges while at the same time confront the opportunities … the people of both countries will benefit from”.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister, Brigadier Mark Phillips was on Monday sworn in as acting President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.
This is President Ali’s first overseas State visit since his inauguration. The presidential delegation from Guyana will return to Georgetown on Thursday.