Guyana President Dr. Irfaan Ali has signalled that he may meet Surinamese President Dr. Jennifer Geerlings-Simons as early as this weekend to push forward discussions on joint projects, with the long-awaited Corentyne River Bridge high on the agenda.
“I think very early; maybe over this weekend there will be a face-to-face meeting with the President of Suriname and the ministries are working that out to advance these projects,” Ali told reporters on Tuesday, shortly after swearing in Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips and Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo at the Office of the President.
Key negotiations center on financing arrangements for the 3.1-kilometre bridge, which will link Moleson Creek in Guyana to South Drain in Suriname, with a landing point on Long Island in the Corentyne River. The bridge, to be managed through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) blending local and international financing, is expected to transform regional connectivity by opening new trade and tourism corridors between Guyana, Suriname, Brazil and the wider South American market.
Earlier Tuesday, Ali hosted Suriname’s Foreign Minister Melvin Bouva at State House to advance bilateral cooperation. Discussions covered Guyana’s commitment to the bridge project, joint efforts to resolve issues affecting fisherfolk, improving the Guyana–Suriname ferry system, and exploring new investment opportunities.
Bouva was accompanied by Suriname’s Cabinet Chief of Staff Sergio Akiemboto and Ambassador Liselle Blankendal, while Ali was joined by Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud and Director of Presidential Affairs Marcia Nadir-Sharma.
Beyond its role as a transportation link, the Corentyne River Bridge project envisions Long Island’s transformation into a duty-free commercial and tourism hub, featuring hotels, recreational parks, shopping malls, farmers’ markets, and entertainment venues.
