Jagdeo proposes talks with new Suriname govt
By Patrick Denny
President Bharrat Jagdeo has written to Prime Minister PJ Patterson of Jamaica proposing that discussions with Suriname, in his presence, on the recent oil rig row should continue when a new government took office in Paramaribo. He made the announcement yesterday at a press conference he hosted at the Office of the President to discuss recent developments in the border controversy with Venezuela. The President announced too that he was unaware of any agreement entered into by Suriname with an oil company to begin drilling at a site close to the Eagle target in Guyana's maritime jurisdiction from which the CGX Energy Inc oil rig was evicted on June 3, by Surinamese gunboats. The President's letter was a response to a proposal by Patterson that the two countries should name their teams to negotiate and agree on joint exploitation and utilisation of the resources of the disputed area, pending a settlement of their maritime border row. Talks between Guyana and Suriname on the issue, as well as for an agreement for the unhindered return of the CGX oil rig, with Patterson as the facilitator, broke down on July 17, in Kingston following three days of discussions in Montego Bay. The Montego Bay and Kingston talks were the fifth in a series between the two countries which started on June 8, following the June 3, eviction by force of the rig from its drilling position in Guyana's maritime jurisdiction by two Surinamese gunboats. The talks on June 8, were at the ministerial level and were held in Trinidad followed by another round between June 13 and 14, in Georgetown; and during June 16 and 18, in Paramaribo when they foundered. These were followed by talks on July 4 and 5, at the presidential level in Canouan, St Vincent during the CARICOM summit. Last week at a press conference at the Office of the President, President Jagdeo said that he would have released his letter once he was sure that it had been received by Patterson. He never did so and answered the question when he was asked at his press briefing yesterday. He disclosed that during the discussions in Montego Bay, Suriname had mentioned that it had been in discussion with a conglomerate including Shell and Burlington for a site east of the Eagle target. The President sidestepped questions about government's interest in acquiring for the Coast Guard a refitted vessel once used by the Canadian Coast Guard. He would only say that government was exploring all avenues to recapitalise the army. The poor state of the coast guard has been highlighted as one of the conditions which emboldened the Suriname navy to act on June 3 against the CGX oil rig.
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