DC asks boat owners to halt operations

Canoes that take people and goods across the river from Albina to Saint Laurent in neighboring French Guiana and vice versa on Tuesday were ordered by soldiers to drop their anchors. Although the border crossing with French Guiana had officially been closed, boat owners kept on transporting people and goods across the river.

A group of people whose boats had been confiscated went to the office of the District Commissioner to file complaints. Several of them told Times of Suriname that they had not received any official word from the authorities regarding the closing of the borders. They made it clear that the local authorities must inform them on time whenever new instructions have been issued. Fourteen canoes were confiscated in Albina by soldiers.

The district commissioner of Marowijne North-East, Freddy Daniel, told Times of Suriname that he had listened to the complaints of the boat owners and that he explained the dangers of COVID-19 to them. “The boats were returned to them after it was made clear to them that this would be the first and final warning. The national army is in charge of border security,” said DC Daniel who made it clear that the border with neighboring French Guiana has been closed and that boat owners are not allowed to take any passengers across the river.

The director of the National Security Directorate, Danielle Veira, pointed out that it was explained to the boat owners that this is also about protecting their health. “It is understandable that nobody wants to suffer financial losses,” said Veira who added that everything is currently under control in Albina. Nickerie District Commissioner Nisa

Kurban-Baboe told Times of Suriname that she has received information that people are entering Suriname even though the border crossings with neighboring Guyana are closed.

The DC pointed out that she is constantly in contact with the commander of the Western division of the National Army, Major Edmond Lehman, and the police chief of the Western Division of the Police Force Suriname, Retitia Forster. Officials have reportedly beefed up surveillance and in particular at the back track crossing.