The Suriname government has decided to build the planned bridge over the Corentyne River itself.
Minister Stephen Tsang of Public Works and Spatial Planning (OWRO) announced Monday evening in The National Assembly that Suriname will finance the bridge one hundred percent itself, according to Suriname outlet, Star Niews.
If confirmed this would be a major shift from from the earlier arrangement where Suriname and Guyana had moved in the direction of joint financing of the project and an immediate hurdle to proceeding with the project.
Indeed, for a long period of time, Suriname had been unable to commit to financing its portion of the bridge because of international financial strictures on its debt load. Suriname is however expecting massive oil revenues in the coming years from offshore oil.
Star Niews said that Minister Tsang made the announcement during the discussion of his ministry’s budget. He responded to questions from VHP leader Asis Gajadien about the state of affairs surrounding the bridge between Suriname and Guyana. According to the minister, the government has decided to take the financing entirely on its own account. “The government has decided to self-finance the bridge one hundred percent,” Tsang said, according to the report. He added that, depending on the chosen financing structure, a new tender procedure will probably be necessary.
The minister said that several financing models are still being investigated. Among other things, the possibility of tolls are looked at. “Several models have been discussed, including with regard to tolls. Everything is still open. All models are being reviewed together with the Ministry of Finance,” Tsang said.
He let there be no misunderstanding about how the government sees the project. “The fact is that it must and will be a Surinamese bridge.”
During the break, Gajadien noted that under the previous government a tender procedure had already started for the construction of the bridge and wanted to know what the status was. In addition, he asked what agreements have now been made with Guyana about the implementation of the project and whether the announced change of course means that a new tender will be held.
To those questions, Tsang replied that a new tender is probably necessary, depending on the final form of financing.
Star Niews said that the Corentyne Bridge is considered one of the most important infrastructural projects for the further economic integration of Suriname and Guyana and thus South America. The bridge, it said, will replace the current ferry connection between South Drain and Moleson Creek and significantly facilitate freight and passenger traffic between the two countries.
Under the previous government of the late Chan Santokhi, Star Niews noted that the project was prepared in close cooperation with Guyana. The current government is now choosing to implement the bridge entirely as a Surinamese project and to finance it itself, the report said.
The minister did not comment on Monday evening on the consequences of this choice for the existing agreements with Guyana. Nor did he announce when a possible new tender will take place, the report said.
Tsang’s statement will raise eyebrows in Georgetown which has driven momentum on this project. Observers say there is the additional issue of sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Corentyne River. The bridge cannot be built without Guyana’s acquiescence as it will land on this country’s side of the river. Guyana also challenges Suriname’s claim of sovereignty over the Corentyne River and this would be a hindrance to any unilateral move by Suriname for the construction of the bridge.
On September 13 last year, President Irfaan Ali and the President of Suriname, Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, met in Nickerie and agreed to establish a bilateral coordinating group that will address outstanding issues relating to making a bridge across the Corentyne River a reality during their tenure, Stabroek News had reported.
“Key to all of this is the integration of our infrastructure and that is why we had talks also on the bridge across the Corentyne River. Both of us, Madam President and I, have expressed commitment from both governments in having this signature project completed. As a result, there will be timely advancement of this project, recognising the transformational role it can play for tourism, trade connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges,” President Ali stated during his address at what was described as a joint press conference following the meeting held in Nickerie, the district where the Guyana/Suriname ferry docks in the east.
“We have agreed to have a specific coordinating group look at addressing all outstanding issues; technical, financial, legal issues, so that we can advance this project in an efficient manner,” he added.
“We have discussed the bridge; the Corentyne Bridge, and indicated that both countries want it,” she said.
She added, “You know that we have indicated since 2010, that we want the bridge, but that we, on our side, are still evaluating and inventorising the various technical, financial and legal matters. Things that we did not have yet. We have agreed that as soon as we have that, we will continue to implement this initiative, in a way that is clear and transparent for us.”
President Ali, who at the time of the meeting had not yet appointed any ministers of government, was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud.
Santokhi, who lost the elections last year to Geerlings-Simons, had in May of 2025 stated that a sod-turning for the long-awaited bridge linking Guyana and Suriname would have taken place within weeks. Santokhi passed away this year.
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