The governments of Antigua and Barbuda and Suriname have signed an agreement that will serve to finance a development programme between both nations.
The agreement was signed in Paramaribo on Wednesday as Prime Minister Gaston Browne completed the second day of his three day official visit to Suriname.
The agreement, signed with the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF), will finance elements of the Country Assistance Programme for Antigua and Barbuda and will also support cooperation with Suriname.
Browne told reporters that based on Antigua and Barbuda’s need for food security , the partnership with Suriname is crucial to help increase the production capacity.
“We have identified a number of areas of cooperation especially in the agricultural sector.We will be signing off on a functional cooperation agreement in which we will be seeking technical expertise from the government and people of Suriname to help us build capacity in our agricultural sector.”
The grant of US$1.6 million will be used to purchase black belly sheep and coconut seedlings – the seedlings will replace hundreds of palms that have succumbed to lethal yellowing disease in Antigua.
The Antiguan Prime Minister also said he hopes to collaborate with Suriname to replenish his country’s need for citrus fruits in an effort to meet the needs of locals as well as the tourism industry.
Concerning tourism, Browne said there are opportunities for entrepreneurs in Suriname as investments amounting to over US$2-billion have led to the construction of several tourism properties in Antigua and Barbuda.
“I believe that there is an opportunity for entrepreneurs in Suriname to provide products to these hotel operators …. you have aggregates that we need and we expect very shortly to engage entrepreneurs to import aggregates including sand.
He however said there is one area of serious concern – that of transportation – one of many issues discussed with the President of Suriname Desi Bouterse.
“There are many areas of cooperation, but there is an impediment of transportation, the President and I have spoken extensively about engaging CARICOM in providing some form of sustainable transportation system within the region to move goods and people as well.”
He said Bouterse has invited Antigua and Barbuda to partner with Suriname in acquiring additional cargo boats – adding that Suriname recently acquired one .
“And we are now looking at the possibility of partnering with Suriname to acquire another.This could be the catalyst for the start of a regional maritime transportation system and we have asked the CDF to look at the possibility of providing funding to have an effective maritime transportation system in the region – to move goods from Jamaica in the north to Suriname and Guyana in the south”
“We believe that there is a real possibility for the resources …..we can solve the long outstanding issue of maritime transportation,” Browne added.
