The sod-turning event which will mark the start of construction for the long-awaited Corentyne River Bridge connecting Guyana and Suriname is likely to take place in a few weeks’ time. This is according to Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi.
He was in Guyana on Monday for the opening ceremony of Grassalco’s subsidiary, GUYSURE Aggregate & Sands Inc.’s Guyana office.
Santokhi said he had hoped that his visit would have included both the opening of the GUYSURE office and the sod-turning ceremony for the bridge, but this did not materialise.
“We were planning today (Monday)… this event and the ground-breaking ceremony of the bridge that we planned joint activity but unfortunately I think the ground-breaking ceremony will need some more time, more in terms of weeks than months, but it will come,” he said.
Also speaking on the bridge construction, Chairman of the Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce (SGCC), Dr Vishnu Doerga, said the infrastructure is urgently needed. He noted that the facility requires the support of both Guyana and Suriname, as its construction remains a high priority for the SGCC.
The Surinamese president nonetheless congratulated Grassalco and its partners on their significant milestone. He said Grassalco’s collaboration with the Guyanese market is a concrete realisation of the broader regional integration goals within CARICOM.
“This company is not only an important step for Grassalco, but also an example of successful economic expansion of Suriname businesses,” the president emphasised.
It was highlighted that Santokhi’s short visit also included bilateral consultations with President Dr Irfaan Ali, as Suriname remains keen on economic cooperation with Guyana while encouraging Surinamese state-owned enterprises to engage in the regional market.
