Suriname’s Santokhi returns for ‘very important’ second visit

Hours before President Chandrikapersad Santokhi arrive in Guyana for his second official Suriname’s visit within a year, President Irfaan Ali has registered his optimism saying on Monday that it is “a very important visit.”

“We have committed ourselves as neighbours to work… this is a continuation of that collaboration and bringing closer ties,” President Ali said briefly on the sidelines of an event when questioned by the News Room.

He said with Suriname becoming a major player in the regional oil and gas sector, the two countries are now confronted with similar challenges and opportunities.

“We can merge our thinking to bring betterment for the two countries,” Dr. Ali added.

Santokhi will pay a four-day Official Visit to Guyana from Tuesday August 17- 20, 2021 at the invitation of Dr. Ali.

This Official visit follows the visit of Dr. Ali to the Republic of Suriname in November 2020, during which the two Presidents launched the Guyana-Suriname Strategic Dialogue and Cooperation Platform (SDCP).

They will review the progress made thus far under that mechanism in the areas of Foreign Policy Coordination and Political Dialogue, Environment, Health, Infrastructure and Transportation, Agriculture, Immigration, Customs, Security and Private Sector Enhancement.

The two Presidents will also discuss priority issues on the CARICOM agenda as well as the economic and social repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on their countries.

This sustained engagement between Presidents Ali and Santokhi is testimony to their shared vision and commitment to converging the collective energies of the two countries for the benefit of the citizens of both countries and the region as a whole.

President Santokhi will be accompanied by his wife and First Lady, Mellisa Santokhi- and a delegation comprising Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation, David Abiamofo, Minister of Natural Resources, Parmanand Sewdien, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Riad Nurmohamed, Minister of Public Works, Albert E. Jubithana, Minister of Transport, Communication and Tourism, representatives of the State Oil Company of Suriname and members of the private sector.