The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has warned that a proportionate response may be necessary if Suriname does not reverse its decision to impose new fees on vessels using the Corentyne River, cautioning that the move will disrupt trade and raise costs for Guyanese businesses.
The PSC said the charges are already having an immediate impact on sectors including timber, quarrying, transport and river-based commerce, increasing operating costs and reducing competitiveness for businesses that depend on the waterway.
“These unilateral charges are driving up the cost of doing business and placing additional pressure on livelihoods in communities that depend on the river every day,” the commission said in a statement.
The body argued that the measures run counter to the principles of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), which are designed to promote the free movement of goods and reduce barriers to regional trade.
The PSC called on the Government of Guyana to urgently engage Surinamese authorities to secure the removal of the fees and restore what it described as a fair and predictable trading environment.
While urging dialogue as the preferred approach, the commission said Georgetown should be prepared to implement “proportionate and strategic responses” if the measures are not reversed.
The PSC added that it will continue to advocate for the protection of local businesses and adherence to regional trade commitments, warning that failure to maintain reciprocity could undermine trust between neighbouring states.
