Dominica PM concludes visit

Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit recently concluded his official visit to Suriname. PM Skerrit visited Suriname to discuss matters relating to agriculture, tourism, and trade and climate resilience with Suriname’s president Desi Bouterse. Dominica reportedly wants to learn all about Suriname’s rice industry, banana cultivation and the production of honey and coconut oil. PM Skerrit was accompanied by Minister for the Environment, Climate Resilience, Disaster Management and Urban Renewal Joseph Isaac, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Dr. Reginald Thomas and Director of Forestry Mr. Minchinton Burton during his visits to Suriname’s rice and banana fields in the western part of Suriname. The delegation also visited several beekeepers in the Coronie District.

Suriname and Dominica have decided to work more closely together in the identified areas within the agrarian sector. They also want to intensify cooperation in the trade and fisheries sector. President Desi Bouterse referred to the collaboration between Suriname and Dominica as an added value to the existing cooperation within the Caribbean Community (Caricom). “We are two small countries that are still developing but we have huge potentials. The objective is to place the potentials next to each other and to see where we can collaborate,” said President Bouterse as he looked back at the visit of his Dominican counterpart. Both countries will reportedly ink several Memorandums of Understanding aimed at strengthening and deepening bilateral relations. Prime Minister Skerrit has previously stated that his goal is to make Dominica the first Climate Resilient Nation in the world. Suriname reporetdly wants to learn from the climate resilience experiences of Dominica.