PSC condemns repeated misrepresentation of Guyana’s territory by Suriname 

See full statement from the Private Sector Commission:

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) expresses its strong objection to the display of a map  depicting the New River Triangle as part of Suriname during the opening ceremony of the  Suriname Energy, Oil and Gas Summit (SEOGS) 2026.

While Guyana and Suriname have enjoyed longstanding economic, cultural, and people-to people ties, and while the PSC has consistently advocated for stronger trade and business  relations between our two countries, incidents such as these continue to undermine confidence  and goodwill among the Guyanese business community.

This is not the first time the PSC has been compelled to raise concerns regarding the failure to  properly recognise and respect Guyana’s territorial integrity. On February 11, 2025, the PSC  publicly objected to similar circumstances arising at a business conference in Suriname, where  Guyana’s territorial boundaries were not appropriately represented. At the time, the PSC called  for greater sensitivity and respect for matters relating to sovereignty and territorial integrity,  particularly in forums intended to promote regional business cooperation.

It is therefore deeply disappointing that, more than a year later, the PSC finds itself once again  forced to object to a similar occurrence.

The PSC has consistently supported dialogue, cooperation, and stronger economic integration  between Guyana and Suriname. We firmly believe that the private sectors of both countries stand  to benefit from closer collaboration, increased trade, joint investment opportunities, and deeper  economic partnerships. These objectives, however, can only be advanced in an environment of  mutual respect and good faith.

Recent developments, including concerns raised by the Guyanese private sector regarding the  imposition of fees affecting vessels operating on the Corentyne River and now the repeated  presentation of maps inaccurately depicting Guyana’s sovereign territory, have unfortunately  created the perception of a troubling pattern that is inconsistent with the principles of  neighbourly cooperation.

The PSC wishes to make it unequivocally clear that the New River Triangle is part of the sovereign  territory of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Any depiction suggesting otherwise is  unacceptable and contrary to the spirit of constructive relations that both countries should be  striving to strengthen.

Accordingly, the PSC calls upon the organisers of SEOGS 2026, including Staatsolie, to publicly  address this matter and provide assurances that future conferences and official presentations will  accurately reflect Guyana’s territorial boundaries.

The PSC remains committed to dialogue and engagement. However, meaningful cooperation  requires reciprocity and respect. The Guyanese private sector cannot be expected to participate  in forums designed to promote partnership while Guyana’s sovereignty is repeatedly disregarded.

We urge our neighbours in Suriname to work with Guyana in a manner that strengthens trust,  promotes mutual respect, and advances the shared economic interests of both nations. The  future of Guyana-Suriname relations should be built on partnership and cooperation—not  recurring incidents that unnecessarily strain relations between our peoples and businesses.