By Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent
Email: ivan@caribbeannetnews.com

PARAMARIBO, Suriname: The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) will finance the upgrading of a port in the western part of Suriname, officials here have confirmed. According to John Defares, manager of the Port Authority, the sea port in Nieuw-Nickerie close to the border with Guyana is being upgraded with a US$11 million loan from the IsDB, while the Port Authority will finance the remaining US$2.5 million from its own budget.

At the signing of the Contract for Consultancy Services for Upgrading of the Nieuw Nickerie Port Tuesday with Egyptian contractor Hamza Associates, Defares said that the new port facilities could also be of benefit to the east coast of Guyana. Transport Minister Alice Amafo stated that adequate port facilities are essential for Suriname’s trade relations with the region and beyond.

Due to the poor conditions in the Nickerie port, the handling of vessels dropped from 18 in 2002 to zero in 2006. Transport of goods since then is being carried out over the roads, putting even more pressure on the infrastructure and increasing cost for importers, distributors and traders.

According to Nickerie Port manager Charel Getrouw, revenues dropped significantly over the past 6 years, due to the poor conditions of the facilities. Construction of the new port infrastructure should be concluded by August 2009. Currently the port is mostly being used for the export of rice and bananas and transit trade to Guyana.

The mainly wooden moorings are being replaced by 250-meter-long concrete structure, while the contractors will clear a fairway of about 12.5 kilometers in order to facilitate docking of large vessels during ebb tide. The project also consists of the construction of new steel storehouses and a container platform, installation of a weighbridge, as well renovation of a banana storehouse and the Customs Office.

The IsDB is currently financing several development projects in Suriname, including the construction of over 20 Primary Health Care Centers in the interior for approximately US$4 million and upgrading of the navigation systems at the international airport for US$10 million.

Suriname joined the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in 1996 and became member of its financing institution the Islamic Development Bank in 1997. Suriname is the only country in the Western Hemisphere as a member of the OIC.