Barbados, Suriname seeking closer collaboration

BRIDGETOWN (CMC):

Barbados and Suriname are seeking to deepen existing bilateral collaboration, using the Brokoponda Programme for Cooperation as the blueprint for the two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries achieving that initiative.

A government statement said that visiting Suriname Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation Albert Ramidin held discussions with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Dr Jerome Walcott.

“The two ministers discussed the pressing issue of the Brokoponda Programme for Cooperation, an agreement between both countries, to further dialogue in specified areas through a variety of connectivity mechanisms, such as people-to-people exchanges, and leveraging information and communications technologies,” the statement said.

It quoted Walcott as saying that “the programme was curtailed and affected by the COVID-19 pandemic”.

“Now we’re sort of recharging, relooking and planning for the future. And at tomorrow’s meeting, we’re going to look at all of the various sectors involved, and see how we could work together in a sustainable way to help both countries,” he said.

Barbados and Suriname established diplomatic relations on February 7, 1977.