Suriname Next in Line for CARICOM Chair

Following Prime Minister John Briceño’s tenure as Chairman of CARICOM, the President of Suriname will take on the role. Just before news time, News Five spoke to briefly to Albert Ramdin, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Suriname. During his interview, conducted outside the compound due to media restrictions, Ramdin spoke about some of the issue of importance to his nation in these high level meetings.

Albert Ramdin

Albert Ramdin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Suriname

“Let me begin by saying this, we are happy to be in Belize. We appreciate the hospitality of the government and the people. These are beautiful surroundings so it doesn’t make it easy to have serious meetings. I think we all kind of tempted to be out of the meetings. But, these are important meetings. We believe that for Suriname, President Santoki will be the incoming Chair. So, after Prime Minister Briceno has demitted in July first, Suriname will become the Chair. So, it is important in that regard to have continuation of the agenda. But, in terms of the whole region and for Suriname, couple important issues, the Caribbean Single Market and Economy is particularly important. How can we make it better?  A lot of work needs to be done. One of the most important issues, how do we get rid of the none tariff barrier and those issues that make it difficult for export to take place between the countries. So intra- regional trade needs to increase. Suriname has made some proposals in that regard. The other thing that is important to us is the agricultural development of the region. Surinam can together with Guyana can provide food security, together with Belize as well. We can do much more in working together. We have a small market. The bridge in which Belize can make between CARICOM and Central America is critically important. That is why we appreciate also the initiative of the Prime Minister to host the CARICOM-S.I.C.A. Summit., because this region Central America is sixty million in market size. CARICOM is twelve, depending on how you count. All these are opportunities.”