Call for boycott of CARIFESTA over Suriname map
Stabroek News
October 31, 2002
Communications consultant Kit Nascimento has called for a boycott of CARIFESTA VIII to be held next year in Suriname until the Government of Suriname withdraws from public display its map which incorporates the New River Triangle as its territory.
He has written Foreign Minister, Rudy Insanally asking that Guyana "take no further part in CARIFESTA VIII to be held in Suriname, until such time as the Government of Guyana withdraws this map from public display and apologises for the grossly provocative and insulting behaviour of their delegation to the CARICOM event launching CARIFESTA VIII in Georgetown.
Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, was present at the ceremony together with CARICOM Secretary General, Edwin Carrington and St Lucia's Prime Minister, Dr Kenny Anthony.
Stabroek News understands that Dr Ramsammy left shortly before the video presentation, which included the offending map, had finished but he lodged no protest at the time. Nascimento said were he present he would have walked out immediately as well as voice his objection to the map being displayed.
Foreign Minister Rudy Insanally on Tuesday told Stabroek News that his Ministry was considering how best to register its disapproval of Suriname's actions in the context of CARICOM to which both countries belong.
Friday's incident was the latest in a series, which includes the screening of a video by the Surinamese oil company, Staatsolie, in the presence of President Bharrat Jagdeo during his official visit to Suriname in January.