Dear Editor,
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Surinamese National Army have renewed their commitment to combat trans-border crimes. I hope that both sides will stick with this collaborative effort.
Arrangements are likely to fall into place within the next six months when the anticipation is that the militaries through the GDF Coast Guard and the Surinamese Navy can move into visible operation in the Corentyne River.
Now, I firmly believe that this partnership can really be effective to combat piracy, human trafficking, trafficking of drugs and firearms and illegal fishing. Too many lives have been lost already. I know that this will bring a lot of comfort to the fishermen who have been under threat of recent.
We need to understand here that the bottom line is safety for citizens of both Guyana and Suriname, and the practice of proper business.
This is because a whole lot is at stake.
In excess of US$ 10 million in goods is being imported annually from Suriname, with collected taxes standing at US$ 5 million. This is outside of the illegal happenings, where the report is that food smuggling actually runs into millions of dollars as well.
This is really a problem.
I know of our gold market over in Suriname and this area has some problems too, as there are a lot of illegal things happening. If I am to expect works in just three areas – food smuggling, gold transactions and piracy attacks – for now, then this is a whole lot, as it is a very good start.
It is a known fact that many big boats actually get loaded in Suriname but they have their goods transferred to small boats in the midstream, and this is where things happen – the transferred stuff can end up both in Guyana and in Suriname as smuggled items.
This has huge implications for business people. I know of one man right around my area.
He has a crew working on two good sized boats. They do not fish, but bring back all kinds of things from Suriname. They can undersell many locals and this is what must not happen.
Yours respectfully,
Juanita Spooner