Seized Guyanese vessel released by Suriname authorities after payment of fine
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| Published on Saturday, October 18, 2008 |
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By Oscar Ramjeet
Caribbean Net News Special Correspondent
Email: oscar@caribbeannetnews.com
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The Surinamese authorities released the Guyanese vessel, MV Lady Chandra 1, which was seized by their military while the vessel was travelling the Corentyne River en route to Skeldon in Guyana to uplift sugar. The vessel was released after a US$400 fine was paid.
Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo had vehemently protested the move by the Surinamese military to seize the vessel in the Corentyne River that borders the two nations.
Jagdeo sent a diplomatic protest note to the Surinamese government as well as to the CARICOM Secretary General and the United Nations.
There was a long-standing border dispute between Guyana and Suriname, which led to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea ruling that the resort to the use of force by Suriname on the maritime dispute offended international norms and practices.
The Kaieteur News reported that the ship experienced some delays because of engine problems. Then, after its release, it was forced to wait on the high tide before it could sail for Skeldon in Guyana.
“Compounding the already sticky situation is the fact that, according to the Surinamese, if a ship is to sail the Corentyne River, it must be piloted by a Surinamese national, something that President Bharrat Jagdeo says is not supported by Guyana," said Guyanese officials.
The Kaieteur reported that the Guyana Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made it clear that this provocation is the latest in a series of events that has seen recurrent interventions by the Surinamese against Guyanese shipping in the Corentyne River.
The two opposition parties in Guyana, the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) are supporting President Jagdeo on the issue. | | | | Reads : 776 |
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