Suriname’s border negotiations
Editorial
Stabroek News
August 22, 2002
Things have not being going well for Guyana’s frontiers policy. Its latest attempt to secure a satisfactory solution to the problem of petroleum exploration in the disputed maritime zone with Suriname is in stalemate.
Suriname’s President Ronald Venetiaan was at pains to explain last July that the prospects for a quick solution were not bright. Elements on both sides of the border held strong and irreconcilable opinions on their respective country’s sovereignty and it would not be easy to change those opinions. He felt that the opposition to ‘joint exploration... exploitation... and development’ was strong enough to lead to political instability in both countries and that would not serve the process of promoting economic and political stability in the region.
During his first visit to Guyana, President Venetiaan used the occasion of his address to the National Assembly, on Guyana’s Independence Anniversary - 26 May 1995, to explain to the nation at large the seriousness with which Suriname viewed the border issue, saying that it “takes first place” in its relations with Guyana.
Given President Venetiaan’s remarks it seems that little has changed over the past seven years. Small wonder that not much has been achieved in bilateral relations between Guyana and Suriname. Every important issue that arises somehow is hinged to Suriname’s assertion of sovereignty over the 15,000 km2 New River Zone, the entire Corentyne River and the maritime overlap zone in the Atlantic Ocean.
Suriname’s single-minded pursuit of its territorial interest delayed the commencement of the Canawaima ferry project on the Corentyne River until its every demand was agreed to. Today, the vessel flies Suriname’s flag; offences committed on board are tried in Suriname’s courts; and the service seems to start and stop at Paramaribo’s beck.
The ‘facilitator’ process established by CARICOM’s Heads of Government to resolve the dispute arising out of Suriname’s expulsion of the CGX petroleum platform in June 2000, entrusted to Jamaican Prime Minister Percival Patterson, was doomed from the start. Suriname’s negotiating strategy, CARICOM or no CARICOM, was to proclaim its sovereignty over the disputed maritime zone, unilaterally, then lay down a set of non-negotiable conditions and insist on Guyana’s acceptance of them.
President Cheddi Jagan’s (June 1994) and President Janet Jagan’s (October 1998) attempts to raise the territorial problem during their respective visits to Paramaribo were smothered by Suriname’s insistence on making its claim to sovereignty over New River Zone the beginning and end of all discussions. President Bharrat Jagdeo’s (January 2002) attempt, launched during his visit to Paramaribo, seems to be receiving similar treatment.
It is well known that Suriname’s Government Ministers have obstructed progress by insisting on inserting spurious references to the territorial claims in their communiqués and minutes even on functional co-operation projects. Ordinary officials, travel agencies and other public and private groups earnestly offer tokens and gifts depicting maps showing the New River Zone as part of Suriname’s territory. Guyanese would recall that, nearly 20 years ago, the Suriname Government launched Operation Schoon Schip (Clean Sweep) in which over 5,000 Guyanese (and Haitian) workers were expelled in a most inhuman manner, some being physically molested and having their possessions illegally confiscated.
Indeed, Guyanese nationals generally enjoy low status in Surinamese society and the Guyanese Government has been treated with less than respect in its boundary negotiations with Paramaribo.
Unlike Suriname, Guyana has avoided establishing a permanent border commission made up of expert researchers and trained negotiators and backed by excellent language, library and archival resources. Guyana’s efforts, as a result, particularly the practice of cobbling together part-time border teams a few days before official visits and border talks are due to take place, have been plagued by the problems associated with ad hocery and amateurishness. The proclivity of politicians (who often have exaggerated opinions of their personal negotiation skills) to engage in talks better suited to experts, and the appointment of representatives without sound diplomatic training have also been unhelpful to this country.
The embarrassing result is that some persons who seem to be ignorant of important aspects of the 60-year controversy make absurd public statements and blunder into awkward positions which lead nowhere or, worse, damage Guyana’s position.
Suriname has requested at least two postponements of the proposed meeting of the Guyana-Suriname Joint Border Commissions since January. But, even if the Commissions were to meet, it should be clear that the chances of reaching a solution satisfying to Guyana would be about the same as they were ten, twenty or thirty years ago!