while holding firmly that they

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By Zena HenryEven as the issue of survey being conducted in the contentious New River Triangle area is dying down here in Guyana, Surinamese opposition Parliamentarians remain bitter over Guyana’s occupancy of the location, with opposition members in that country condemning the recent Permission for Geographical and Geophysical Surveys (PGGS0 granted to a mining company, “as a violation of Suriname’s national sovereignty.”The opposition members slammed their government yesterday for their silence on the issue, while holding firmly that they (Surinamese) are the true owners of the area, bordering both the English and Dutch-speaking countries.Additionally, a letter has been dispatched to the speaker of the Surinamese Parliament, Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, calling for President Desi Bouterse to give an explanation in parliament over Guyana’s moves to grant permission for survey/mining activities in the disputed area.DevSur, a Surinamese online media site explained that nationalistic emotions surrounding the Suriname/Guyana border dispute flared up during the week, when information again surfaced about Guyana granting a Brazilian company rights to survey in what is known in Suriname as the Tigri area and in Guyana as the New River Triangle.The media site said that, Opposition parties in Suriname have demanded answers, “but both the Suriname and Guyana Governments have so far remained mum on the issue.”The report said further that opposition members in Suriname believe that the nation’s sovereignty was violated.“Very disturbing information has reached us about the granting of mining rights by Guyana to a third party on Surinamese territory. Timber is being robbed from Surinamese soil,” it was asserted.Opposition members added that Guyana’s action is a “serious violation of our territorial integrity and undermining our national economic interests.”The Dutch-speaking nation however feels that Guyanese have been trespassing on the area, since 1969, “when Guyanese soldiers forcibly claimed Tigri; the area has been under Guyanese rule, leaving the conflict simmering below the surface. Suriname stays true to its claim and considers the Guyanese occupation of the disputed land trespassing.”The report said that Guyana and Suriname have “locked horns over the Triangular shaped area in South West Suriname since 1840.” Both Guyana and Suriname have claimed that South East Berbice region. “Suriname considers the area part of the Coeroenie area of District Sipaliwini, whereas the Guyanese consider it part of their East Berbice-Corentyne region,” the report noted.Again an issue was raised over the disputed area in 2000, DevSur said. “Canadian oil company CGX started drilling in the area with Guyanese authorization, and Suriname sent out its navy to stop operations. Then last year Suriname said that the disputing neighbours were looking to put aside their differences and jointly exploring the riches of the Tigri area.”In the meantime, Muri Brasil Ventures Inc withdrew its intent to survey the New River Triangle area, attributing the move to, “the misinformation, prejudice and hostility toward this proposed survey by persons and agencies which are fostering an adverse investment climate in Guyana.”The company was granted permission for exploration activities under the PGGS granted by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). However, plans to work the disputed area reached a brick wall when several independent bodies expressed against the foreign-owned company having rights to the area. Moreover, critics were loud about the apparent secrecy surrounding the deal which saw Muri being able to survey some 2.2 million acres of forest. Even GGMC said that it had advised against the company getting the PGGS. It was further stated that the agency had been instructed to give the go-ahead to Muri.Retired army personnel had also spoken of the sensitivity given the “shaky relationship” between Guyana and Suriname on this particular location.