Youth business chamber condemns misrepresentation of Guyana’s territory at Suriname Energy Summit

The Guyana Youth Entrepreneurship Chamber (GYEC) is the latest body to condemned what it describes as an unacceptable misrepresentation of Guyana’s territorial boundaries during the opening ceremony of the Suriname Energy, Oil & Gas Summit and Exhibition (SEOGS) 2026.

The Chamber, which is participating in the regional energy conference currently underway in Paramaribo, raised concerns after a map displayed during the event reportedly depicted the New River Triangle as part of Suriname rather than Guyana.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the organisation said the portrayal was both inaccurate and troubling, particularly given the longstanding history and internationally recognised status of the territory.

“The New River Triangle is a recognised and undisputed part of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,” the Chamber stated, noting that the area has been under Guyanese sovereignty for nearly nine decades.

GYEC pointed to a binding international agreement reached in 1936, through which a joint British-Dutch-Brazilian Boundary Commission established the tri-junction point between Guyana, Suriname and Brazil, affirming the territorial boundaries that Guyana continues to recognise.

As a body representing young entrepreneurs and emerging business leaders, the Chamber said it categorically rejects any attempt to distort or misrepresent Guyana’s internationally recognised borders.

The organisation also threw its support behind the Government of Guyana’s decision to formally protest the incident through diplomatic channels.

GYEC further commended several leading private sector organisations that have publicly spoken out on the matter, including the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC), and the Private Sector Commission (PSC).

While reaffirming its commitment to maintaining strong economic and business ties between Guyana and Suriname, the Chamber stressed that regional cooperation must be built on mutual respect and adherence to internationally recognised territorial boundaries.

“Good neighbourly relations must be grounded in honesty, accuracy and respect,” the statement said.

The Chamber is now calling on the organisers of SEOGS 2026 to immediately withdraw the map in question, issue a formal apology and ensure that all future conference materials accurately reflect Guyana’s territorial integrity.

The controversy emerged during what is otherwise one of the region’s most significant energy conferences, attracting government officials, investors, energy executives and business representatives from across the Caribbean and South America.

The incident has sparked concern among Guyanese stakeholders attending the summit, with several organisations insisting that Guyana’s territorial sovereignty must be respected in all official representations at international events.