The Surinamese Government has urged Guyanese authorities to await the outcome of the diplomatic process for the granting of 150 fishing licenses to local fisherfolk but the Guyana Government believes the exchanges at the bilateral political and business levels have failed.
On Saturday, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo said the government intends to stand firm with local fisherfolk to ensure they can continue to secure their livelihoods from fishing in the Corentyne River without constant harassment.
“For one and a half years we been trying, through diplomatic channels, to resolve this and they promised us, in writing, 150 licenses to our fishermen… I raised it and said there must be reciprocity in international trade and relations. The way you treat us, we will treat you,” Jagdeo said.
“So, I saw they issued a statement, their Foreign Ministry, that I must be patient and await diplomatic efforts. But we’ve waited a very long time… our fishermen are being harassed there and the diplomatic efforts are not yielding any results,” The Vice President added.
He said the exchanges have become a “merry-go-round. But we’ll stand up for the people of this country.”