Guyana last night rejected claims by Suriname that a May 15 meeting this year between the leaders of the two countries discussed sole financing of the Corentyne River Bridge by Paramaribo.
In a statement in response to one issued yesterday by the Surinamese government, Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Hugh Todd said: “Guyana wishes to categorically state that in the meeting held on May 15, there was no discussion on financing of the bridge or a signal of departure from the collaborative approach that has guided the project from its inception. Contrary to the impression now being conveyed publicly, Guyana has never been informed through the established bilateral mechanisms that the Government of Suriname intended to assume sole responsibility for financing the bridge. Had such a proposal been formally advanced, Guyana would have considered it through the appropriate diplomatic and technical channels. No such proposal has been presented”.
Todd added that if the Surinamese had reconsidered their position on the financing arrangements, the appropriate course was not to communicate such a significant policy shift through public statements. Matters of this nature, he said, should first be raised directly with the Government of Guyana through the established bilateral framework, thereby allowing for a constructive exchange of views and a considered response.
Todd said that Guyana remains “firmly committed” to the Corentyne River Bridge and continues to believe that the project should proceed on the basis of transparency, mutual respect, consultation, and decisions reached jointly by both Governments.
“The Government of Guyana stands ready to continue discussions in good faith through the agreed bilateral mechanisms with a view to advancing this transformational project for the benefit of the peoples of Guyana and Suriname”, Todd added.
In the statement, Todd also gave background to the talks between the two countries on the bridge. He said that from the inception of this initiative, the bridge has been conceived as a joint project.
Given its cross-border character, Todd said that it has always been understood by both Governments that the planning, financing, construction, operation, and management of the bridge would be matters for joint consideration and agreement.
“Indeed, the statement issued by Suriname today acknowledges that the Joint Technical Working Group bas been mandated to continue discussions on the financial, technical, and operational aspects of the project. This is itself confirmation that financing has always been recognized as a matter requiring joint deliberation and agreement, rather than a unilateral determination by either Party”, Todd asserted.
The Foreign Minister also said that at the initiative of President
Irfaan Ali, the bilateral meeting in question – May 15th – was convened with Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, the President of Suriname at the height of the severe flooding affecting parts of Suriname. Guided by the spirit of friendship and good neighbourliness, Todd said that President Ali reached out personally to offer Guyanas assistance. During that meeting,
He said that Guyana proposed the immediate deployment of a technical team from the Ministry of Agriculture, including specialists in drainage and irrigation, to support Suriname’s response and to make available portable pumps and other technical expertise to assist in mitigating the flooding.
Following that meeting, Todd said that the Minister of Agriculture lent two higo-capacity drainage pumps to Suriname, which the Surinamese said were to be installed at the Sabakoe Project and along the Indira Gandhiweg, near the Red Apple department store to support the water drainage of the Rahemal Project and surrounding areas.
“Guyana further recalls that dedicated bilateral discussions on the construction of the Corentyne River Bridge were formally advanced following the conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding in 2020 between the Governments of Guyana and Suriname during the administration of President Chandrikapersad Santokhi. Since that time, both Governments have consistently proceeded on the basis that the bridge is a shared strategic undertaking requiring joint planning and implementation”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement said. In keeping with that common understanding, Todd said that Guyana and Suriname had jointly engaged prospective development partners with a view to securing financing for this important regional infrastructure project.
“Those joint efforts were premised on the recognition that the bridge serves the economic and social interests of both States and should therefore be developed as a genuinely bilateral initiative”, Todd added.
Clarify
In its statement yesterday, Suriname’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation (BIS) said it had taken note of recent statements from Guyana regarding the bridge and sought to clarify what it described as the impression created by recent reports.
According to the ministry, the issue of financing has been a standing item on the bilateral agenda and was discussed during meetings between the presidents of the two countries in Nickerie on September 13, 2025, at the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in St Kitts and Nevis, and during a virtual meeting between the two leaders on May 15 this year.
The ministry said that during the latest discussions, Suriname had “clearly indicated” its intention to assume responsibility for financing the bridge while noting that, because of the scale and strategic importance of the project, time was needed to evaluate financing options and establish what it described as a sustainable and responsible financial structure.
It added that these principles, together with the current Surinamese government’s intention to finance the bridge, were reaffirmed during the most recent bilateral meeting between the two Heads of State.
According to the statement, the two countries also agreed that their technical working groups would continue developing the financial, technical and operational aspects of the project, including arrangements for the future operation of the bridge.
The ministry said a permanent land link between the two countries has the potential to strengthen trade, investment, logistics, tourism and the movement of people and goods, while contributing to the wider socio-economic development of both countries.
It said the Government of Suriname remains committed to an open, constructive and results-oriented dialogue on the bridge project and other matters of mutual and regional interest.
Suriname’s statement yesterday followed comments by President Ali on Thursday while speaking to reporters after the swearing-in of six Puisne Judges at the Office of the President, when he said Guyana had received no official request proposing any alternative arrangement.
“The Corentyne Bridge is a bridge that is being discussed jointly as a joint project by the Government of Guyana and the Government of Suriname, and that is how it will be,” he had said.
Asked whether Guyana would support Suriname proceeding independently with the project, Ali said Georgetown’s position remained unchanged.
“Guyana is interested in being part of a project that covers two sovereign states in a joint plan. That has always been our position,” he said.
He added that no official communication had been received suggesting a departure from that arrangement, saying he would respond only if a formal proposal was submitted.
Ali’s comments came after reports that Suriname’s Minister of Public Works and Spatial Planning, Stephen Tsang, told that country’s National Assembly last week that Suriname had decided to finance the bridge entirely on its own.
The proposed Corentyne River bridge has long been viewed as a major regional infrastructure project that would replace the existing ferry service between South Drain and Moleson Creek and strengthen trade, tourism and transportation links between Guyana and Suriname.
Suriname’s desire to build the bridge on its own would bring into focus the question of sovereignty over the Corentyne River.
Discussion