– placed on one-week self-quarantine
Forty-nine Guyanese have been repatriated from neighbouring Suriname after their PCR tests were facilitated by the Surinamese Government through an agreement made between President Irfaan Ali and President of Suriname Chandrikapersad Santokhi.
There was a previous dilemma as Suriname does not administer PCR testing to persons without symptoms of COVID-19 but Guyana required the batch of Guyanese to have a negative COVID-19 PCR test, not less than seven days old, before entry.
“When the President of Suriname, His Excellency Chandrikapersad Santokhi, visited Guyana in August 2020 for the inauguration of Dr. Irfaan Ali as Guyana’s newly elected President, both leaders committed to strengthening the bond between the two countries. Mr. Santokhi was a special guest at the inauguration ceremony,” a release from the Ministry of Health explained.
“During the discussions between the two Heads of State, the matter of the group of Guyanese remaining in Suriname for several months was raised by His Excellency Dr. Ali, and Mr. Santokhi readily committed to his Government’s conduct of the PCR testing to facilitate the return travel of the Guyanese citizens.”
The Guyanese citizens arrived home on September 21, 2020. With further assistance from Guyana’s Ambassador to Suriname, Keith George, and staff of the Guyana Embassy in Paramaribo, all 49 persons were tested and the MB Sandaka Ferry was dispatched to transport the batch of Guyanese back to their homeland.
Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, and the entire Ministry of Health, via the released, conveyed their gratitude to the Government and people of Suriname for all the assistance and hospitality afforded to the group of Guyanese while they were staying in Suriname.
As an added precaution, and in keeping with the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 protocols, they will all be placed on a one-week self-quarantine on arrival.
