Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman, recently met with his counterpart in Suriname, Natural Resources Minister, Regilio J. Dodson and Minister of Finance, Gilmore Hoefdraad, to discuss areas of cooperation between the two countries. Accompanying Guyana’s Minister was Mrs. Joanna Homer, Legal and Technical Officer, Ministry of Natural Resources.
Minister Trotman and Ms. Homer share a photo with Suriname’s Minister of Natural Resources ( L) and Minister of Finance (R).
The meeting aimed at identifying specific areas of cooperation and determining the next steps to optimising the cooperation process. The Ministers of Natural Resources of the two neighbouring countries will be the primary facilitators of the engagements.
Gold and diamond mining, bauxite production, water as a natural resource commodity, hydropower, agriculture, infrastructure, and oil and gas exploration, development, production and oil-spill response were among the key areas identified.
The meeting acknowledged the existing general cooperation agreement and working committee of Suriname and Guyana, but acknowledged that further attention is required on the specific areas as noted. A follow up meeting is scheduled to be held in Guyana in November 2017.