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Aug 21, 2009 News
The Suriname Embassy in Guyana has commenced its own investigation into recent disclosures that there has been a change in Suriname’s protocol as it relates to the importation of produce from Guyana.
This disclosure was forthcoming yesterday from an Embassy staffer who disclosed that the relevant officers were preparing to place a call to Suriname to determine the basis for the alleged action. The staffer disclosed that the Embassy had not been advised of any new protocol.
It was also promised that any such information would be forwarded to this newspaper and the relevant authorities as soon as the investigation is completed.
Reports had reached this newspaper that news broadcast in Suriname had revealed that certain produce, including fruits and vegetables, were being barred from entry into the Dutch-speaking territory.
In fact it was disclosed that it has been closed to a week that this action had been engaged by the Surinamese immigration authority.
It was related that Surinamese immigration personnel “just stopped letting the people bring in fruits and vegetables from Guyana and are stopping meat and fish too from coming through the back track.”
According to the owner of a vessel, which operates from Springlands to Nicari (backtrack), the Surinamese authority has even been preventing Guyanese from entering its ports. The operator disclosed that no reason has been given and noted that “we just waiting for the verdict. We don’t know why dey doing this.”
The situation has left a number of persons in a quandary, particularly those who sell the now barred items in Suriname, as there has been no reason given for the drastic action.
Farmers Relations Specialist within the Ministry of Agriculture, Parmanand Persaud, claimed he was unaware of such an action when contacted Wednesday evening.
However, the Agriculture Ministry subsequent to this newspaper’s query had sent out a release which stated that “The Ministry of Agriculture is investigating reports through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of there being a change in the protocol at the Surinamese port of entries for Guyanese agricultural produce.”
In the release it was noted that recently there has been an increase in cross-border agriculture the Agriculture Minister, Robert Persaud, has highlighted trade thus the need for greater surveillance at various ports.
According to the release, the Minister will be visiting Suriname and French Guiana next week to follow up on ongoing collaboration in the area of forestry, research and agriculture development.
It outlined that during the visit, Minister Persaud will meet with his counterpart, Minister of Agriculture of Suriname, the Honorable K. Stanley Raghoebarsing, to continue discussions on Guyana/Suriname developing joint response to various threats to the agriculture sector of both countries, including the need to enhance plant health surveillance and response mechanisms. Minister Persaud it was noted has been in contact with his Surinamese colleague to explore ways to further cooperation.
The release added that Guyana has intensified its plant health management system working through regional and multi-regional agencies including the Inter American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as well
as support from other governments, including the United States Department for Agriculture (USDA).
The Minister’s discussion with his Surinamese Counterpart next week is expected to see further collaboration in agriculture, the release concluded.
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