President Simons and President Ali meet to discuss bilateral ties between Suriname and Guyana.

Happy Monday!

This week, we cover the meeting between Suriname’s president Jennifer Simons and President Ali, the IMF meeting with the Surinamese President, and the concerns of fired Newmont mining workers.

President Simons met with President Irfaan Ali to discuss bilateral ties.

On Saturday, President Jennifer Simons of Suriname and her Guyanese counterpart Irfaan Ali reaffirmed the friendship between their two countries and agreed to deepen cooperation in key areas: trade, energy, agriculture, fisheries, and border issues. A joint declaration was signed, and the next meeting is planned for the UN General Assembly in New York.

• Both presidents emphasized the deep-rooted friendship based on shared values, culture, and geography. They committed to strengthening this partnership for the benefit of both nations.

• They expressed interest in enhancing economic ties and joint ventures, especially through increased private sector collaboration in trade and investment.

• On energy security, the leaders acknowledged the strategic importance of energy and agreed to cooperate on oil, gas, renewables, and electricity interconnection projects.

• On the Corantijn River Bridge Project, both presidents reaffirmed their commitment to building a bridge over the Corantijn River. They recognized its importance for trade, tourism, and connectivity.

• On Border Commission and Disputes, the leaders stressed peaceful dialogue in resolving the Upper Corantijn (New River Triangle) border issue, respecting international law.

• Under former President Santokhi, Guyanese fishers were granted licenses (SK-licenses) to operate in Surinamese waters. This caused a backlash from Surinamese fishing groups and opposition (NDP), who called it illegal and harmful. Leaders have stated that a solution requires:

  • A legally sound fisheries agreement

  • Quotas

  • Joint inspections

  • Ban on subleasing

  • Transparency in license allocation

• The leaders agreed to urgently review the Canawaima Ferry Service to improve efficiency and ensure it supports cross-border communities and trade.

• Both leaders pledged to maintain the region as a Zone of Peace, resolve disputes through diplomacy, and fight cross-border crime. They also emphasized collaboration within CARICOM and South America.

President Simons met with the IMF mission chief in Suriname to discuss Suriname’s economic progress.

• The IMF has Suriname’s Development as “crucial” and offered broad support through various methods such as policy advice, technical assistance, and capacity building.

• President Jennifer Simons met IMF mission chief Alberto Behar in her first in-person meeting with the IMF since taking office.

• During the meeting, important topics were discussed, such as debt reduction. Debt reduction is a key government priority, with plans to ease the burden within three years through international partnerships.

• The IMF emphasizes multiple support avenues, including strengthening Suriname’s economic management and institutional capacity.

• The discussions are part of broader efforts involving other international banks and institutions to stabilize Suriname’s economy.

Workers fired by the Newmont mining company have appealed to the National Assembly for tax deductions on their severance packages, alleging poor treatment.

• Laid-off Newmont Suriname workers are appealing to The National Assembly (DNA), raising concerns about high tax deductions on their severance packages and requesting an extension of health insurance coverage from 6 to 12 months.

• Newmont announced in May that it would cut 10–15% of its Merian mine workforce, more than 200 employees, because of a 48% drop in gold production and 50% increase in costs since 2021.

• The affected workers submitted a petition to DNA, as they criticized Newmont’s handling of the layoffs, citing poor communication, lack of transparency, and failure to consider alternatives.

• The severance package includes:

  1. 12 months’ bonus

  2. 1 month’s salary per year of service

  3. Payment for unused leave

  4. December vacation allowance

  5. 13th-month salary

  6. Health insurance for 6 more months

     Nonetheless, workers object to tax rates of 35–38% on the payout and have demanded better terms.

• Workers say they’ve lost trust in Newmont and do not wish to return to the company even if re-employment were offered in the future.

• They are calling for an independent investigation into how employees were selected for dismissal, claiming the union failed to prevent the layoffs and that the process lacked fairness.