Jagdeo refutes allegations of trade embargo placed on Suriname
- says minister's actions shady
Guyana’s Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday claimed that he has no knowledge of any trade restrictions placed by Guyana on producers in Suriname.
He denied reports published in Surinamese media that there was a ‘trade ban’ implemented by him [Jagdeo], and according to the Vice President, claims that this was done in retaliation for the delay in granted fishing licenses to Guyanese were false.
“I wasn’t even aware that’s happening but we have phytosanitary standards to maintain too but I don’t know if it’s true because I haven’t seen in its mainstream media or we have been notified formally,” Jagdeo said in response to question from the media at a press conference held at Freedom House.
Notwithstanding, the Vice President criticised the Surinamese Minister of Agriculture, Parmanand Sewdien, noting that he is nothing short of a “shady character.”
“Suriname and some of the ministers especially that Minister of Agriculture… I don’t have any faith in him, he is a shady character… I need to say that with what he did with the fishing licenses,” Jagdeo said.
He could not provide any further update on the promised 150 SK fishing licenses to Guyanese.
On Wednesday, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, when contacted by the News Room, responded to the complaints from the business community in the neighbouring country that there is a supposed ban on the importation of fruits, vegetables and other produce.
He rubbished those claims, noting that in 2021, the two states signed the protocol agreement concerning the Trade in Fresh Agricultural Produce.
And efforts are being made to ensure international obligations, standards and guidelines are met, which relate to the production, certification, processing, packaging, storing and transporting of agricultural produce between the two countries.
And this is the crux of the issue that has resulted in emotional comments from the business community in Suriname.
He said persons intent on legally bringing produce into Guyana must ensure they have the proper certification and follow the established mechanisms.
Some of those mechanisms are set up to prevent the importation of pests and diseases which are of major concern to Guyanese authorities.
Mustapha said he personally asked the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) and the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) to be vigilant.
According to reports in the Surinamese press, exporters in Paramaribo have been unable to send their produce to Guyana for a few months now. The Surinamese government is hoping to resolve whatever issues exist.
Hey Suriname: Do you have a “one-way” sign on the highway leading to Guyana? Get with the programme, trade is not ONLY you selling your goods……it involves you buying or maybe fishing licences.