PARAMARIBO – Suriname will next month take over the chairmanship of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR), a crucial Caricom body that deals with foreign policy, diplomacy and cooperation between member states.
Responsibility will fall to Minister Melvin Bouva of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation (BIS). COFCOR plays a central role in preparing the agenda for the CARICOM heads of state and coordinating regional positions.
According to Minister Bouva, it is a “difficult but honorable task”. He emphasizes that Suriname, as chairman, will be responsible for setting and coordinating the agenda, in close cooperation with the secretariat and other CARICOM bodies. The next COFCOR meeting is scheduled for May 21 and 22.
In preparation for the presidency, a technical mission recently took place to Guyana, led by Ambassador Miriam MacIntosh. According to Bouva, this meeting was extremely constructive and provides a solid basis for future work.
One of the spearheads during the Surinamese presidency will be guaranteeing peace and stability in the region. The minister points to worrying developments in countries such as Haiti and Venezuela. In Haiti, democratic structures are under pressure and there are human rights violations. Suriname wants to continue to work with the international community to provide support for free and fair elections. Cuba also remains a point of attention, with Caricom providing humanitarian aid.
In addition to security, Suriname focuses on economic cooperation and further regional integration. Improving connectivity between Member States – both via air and water connections – is central. Food security and energy supply are also a priority. In that context, the government sees opportunities for Suriname and Guyana to play a strategic role within the region.
Furthermore, Suriname wants to contribute to the institutional strengthening of both Caricom and COFCOR. According to Minister Bouva, modernization is necessary to make cooperation and communication within the region more effective.
According to the minister, the presidency will be a joint effort. With broad support from the government and society, he expresses the ambition to fulfill this role successfully and to take regional cooperation to a higher level.
