The Suriname government has pushed back against reports that it has withdrawn maritime charges for Guyanese vessels using the Corentyne River, insisting that the fees remain in effect under its current legal framework.
In a statement on Friday, Suriname’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation said reports suggesting that Guyanese vessels were once again traversing the river free of charge were “inaccurate and misleading.”
The clarification follows reports in Guyanese media that Suriname had quietly stopped enforcing pilotage fees and cargo levies on Guyanese vessels operating along the border waterway.
However, Paramaribo said no such policy change had been made, maintaining that all vessels—local and foreign—remain subject to the same maritime regulations and tariffs within Surinamese waters.
Suriname further disclosed that it had formally communicated its position to the Guyana government in a diplomatic note dated April 20, 2026, in response to correspondence from Georgetown on the matter.
According to Suriname, the only exemptions granted in the past were specific to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and did not apply broadly to commercial shipping traffic.
The issue has become a growing point of contention between Georgetown and Paramaribo, particularly for Guyanese operators transporting goods such as timber and aggregate through the Corentyne River. Reports indicate that the revised charges can include pilotage fees reaching as high as US$5,000, in addition to cargo-based levies.
Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd has acknowledged that discussions remain ongoing, noting that Suriname has not yet agreed to Guyana’s proposal to return to the previous arrangement, under which Guyanese vessels reportedly paid a significantly lower flat rate.
Suriname, for its part, said it remains committed to dialogue and has invited Guyana to technical discussions aimed at reviewing the current GUYSUCO arrangement and broader issues relating to river safety and trade movement.
The Corentyne River has long been a sensitive issue in Guyana-Suriname relations, given differing interpretations over jurisdiction and navigation rights. While both governments have signaled a willingness to resolve the latest disagreement through diplomacy, the issue remains unresolved.
