Patterson
Adrian Frater, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
A MEMORANDUM of understanding, aimed at settling the long standing border and maritime dispute, between Guyana and Suriname, is slated to be signed in Montego Bay today.
This announcement was made by Jamaica's Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, who acted as a facilitator in the two days of talks between the President of Guyana Bharrat Jadgeo and his Surinamese counterpart Jules Wijdenbosch, which ended at the Half Moon Golf Tennis and Beach Club in the second city yesterday.
In a statement on behalf of both visiting leaders, Mr. Patterson said that there were two main issues up for discussion - the territorial dispute and border question and the matter relating to the maritime boundaries.
"Both Presidents have agreed to use the Montego Bay conference to bring these two matters to finality," said Mr. Patterson, who hinted that he had an idea of what the memorandum was about, but said it was premature to make an announcement.
"We hope to be able to finalise the memorandum within the next 24 hours and then make an announcement," he said late yesterday afternoon.
According to the Prime Minister the details of the memorandum could not be announced yesterday as there were legal issues to be settled before the document could become official. However the Surinamese leader will not be in Montego Bay for today's official signing as he left immediately after yesterday's meeting. However, the Foreign Ministers of both countries will work out the final details after which the document will be signed.
"We now have a draft text and we hope to finalised it within the next 24 hours," said Mr. Patterson. "At that time all the details of the memorandum will be made available."
