Suriname disputes Guyana’s claim to mineral rich lands

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – Suriname maintains that the Tigri area, a huge, mineral rich landmass in the south west section of the country belongs to the Dutch Caribbean Community (CARICOM) despite claims by Guyana dating back to the 1840s.Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Lackin told the National Assembly that Guyana has been “making moves on the Tigri area for 40 years now.
“Tigri is Suriname territory, but as a developing country we have chosen for the path of diplomacy with as goal sustainable development for both our nations. We are convinced that a constructive solution is the best outcome,” he said.
Lackin said the dispute is a priority for President Desi Bouterse, and that Suriname and Guyana have established a committee that in the past three years held four meetings about Tigri.
The Foreign Minister said President Bouterse and his Guyanese counterpart Donald Ramotar have also had discussions about the dispute and have given their foreign ministers instructions, which have been passed on to the border committee.
The Minister said that the decision could also have been made to go to war with Guyana over Tigri. “But wars cost money. We rather use those for public health and education,” he said, adding: “Fact is that Tigri is part of Suriname territory.”