AGP Executive Report

Venezuela–Suriname Deal Push: Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodríguez met Surinamese President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons in Paramaribo and signed a package of strategic agreements covering energy, fishing, agriculture, transport (air and maritime), tourism, education and health, with both sides stressing “complementarity” and regional integration. Oil & Gas Skills Transfer: Rodríguez said the accords include training for Suriname’s oil and gas workforce after new offshore discoveries, plus plans to reopen bilateral air routes. Fisheries Expansion: The fisheries pacts were framed as a major boost for livelihoods and exports, including licensing for 200 Venezuelan fishermen to operate in the Atlantic corridor and benefits for artisanal fleets. Diplomatic Solidarity: Rodríguez thanked Suriname for humanitarian aid after Venezuela’s June earthquakes, while both leaders paid tribute to Simon Bolívar. Regional Business Links: Barbados is also looking to Suriname for construction materials like silica sand and aggregate as local supplies tighten, aiming to turn bilateral agreements into workable trade. Visa Access Update: A 2026 roundup lists 54 countries offering eVisas to Nigerians, including Suriname.

Venezuela–Suriname Energy & Fisheries Push: Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodríguez is in Paramaribo for a major bilateral visit with Suriname President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, signing cooperation deals covering hydrocarbons, air and maritime connectivity, agriculture, tourism, education, and fisheries—highlighting training for Suriname’s oil and gas workforce, plans to reopen air routes, and access for 200 Venezuelan fishermen in the Atlantic corridor. Regional Diplomacy & Solidarity: Rodríguez also thanked Suriname for earthquake support in June and led a floral tribute to Simón Bolívar in Paramaribo, underscoring the 50-year diplomatic ties. CARICOM Economic Links: Barbados is looking to Suriname for construction materials like silica sand and aggregate as local supplies tighten, aiming to turn existing agreements into workable business arrangements. Power & Rural Services: EnergieBedrijven Suriname (EBS) has launched tenders for solar-storage minigrids and water infrastructure in indigenous communities, with applications due Oct. 30. Business in the Region: PBS Group has completed its acquisition of the remaining 55% of Trinidad Systems Ltd, taking full ownership and naming its CEO to oversee the Eastern Caribbean cluster including Suriname. Sports: Suriname’s SV Broki beat Defence Force 2-1 in the CONCACAF Caribbean Cup, helping shape the group race.

Venezuela–Suriname Summit: Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodríguez arrived in Paramaribo and met President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons to push a wide bilateral agenda. Fisheries & Food Security: The leaders signed fisheries cooperation pacts, with Rodríguez calling them historic for the artisanal fleet and saying agreements will boost binational fishing and exports. Energy & Skills: New accords also target hydrocarbons, including training for Suriname’s oil and gas workforce, plus plans to strengthen energy ties. Transport & Connectivity: Talks covered reopening air routes and expanding maritime and air transport cooperation. Regional Diplomacy: Both sides highlighted 50 years of relations and agreed to set up a High-Level Joint Commission to monitor progress. Local Development: Separately, Suriname’s EnergieBedrijven Suriname (EBS) is tendering solar-storage minigrids and water infrastructure for rural indigenous communities, with applications due Oct. 30. Public Health Push: PANCAP urged stronger suicide prevention action across CARICOM, citing high suicide mortality rates in Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago.

Suriname-Venezuela Diplomacy: President Delcy Rodríguez arrived at Suriname’s Presidential Palace to kick off a Bilateral Strategic Cooperation Agenda, stressing “complementarity” and cooperation in energy, maritime and air transport, agriculture, fishing, trade, tourism, culture and education, with a High-Level Joint Commission planned. EU Forest Policy: Brussels proposed exempting French Guiana from the EU Deforestation Regulation, citing its geography and enforcement challenges—an issue that also touches Suriname and the wider Amazon. Mental Health Push: PANCAP urged stronger suicide prevention across CARICOM, pointing to high suicide mortality rates in Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago and calling for action beyond the health sector. Energy & Infrastructure: EnergieBedrijven Suriname (EBS) is tendering solar-storage minigrids and water infrastructure for indigenous communities under the Bio-Sweet project, with bids due Oct. 30. Mining & Investment: Sranan Gold announced a change of auditor, appointing Crowe Mackay LLP effective Sept. 4, 2026. Crime Investigation: Search dogs completed a mission in the disappearance case of businessman/film producer Rodney Leysner; no body was found, but police say the operation produced leads. Regional Health Cooperation: Guyana assumed Pro Tempore Presidency of CESAM, with Suriname’s malaria elimination experience highlighted for regional collaboration. Local Business/Tech: PBS Group completed its acquisition of Trinidad Systems Limited, extending its regional ICT footprint that includes Suriname. Sports: Club Sando secured a historic Concacaf Caribbean Cup final-four spot after a goalless draw with Delfines del Este.

Suriname Energy & Infrastructure: EnergieBedrijven Suriname (EBS) has launched tenders for solar-storage minigrids and rural water infrastructure under the Bio-Sweet project, covering solar PV with battery storage in indigenous communities and additional Matawai clusters; bids close Oct. 30. Suriname Mining & Investment: Founders Metals reported high-grade gold from step-out drilling at its Antino project in southeastern Suriname, including 27.0m of 20.38 g/t Au in hole FR251. Suriname Public Safety: A specialised Dutch search-and-rescue dog team has completed its mission in the disappearance investigation of businessman/film producer Rodney Leysner; no body was found, but police say the searches produced leads for the ongoing case. Regional Business: PBS Group has taken full control of Trinidad Systems Limited (TSL), buying the remaining 55% stake; TSL will keep operating under its existing brand. Health & Mobility: US travel-associated chikungunya cases reached 89 among Americans this year, with zero local spread reported—risk is tied to trips abroad, not backyard transmission. Disability Rights (Global): A major Inter-American Court case in Guatemala challenges decades of forced psychiatric institutionalization, pushing for community-based support.

Energy & Rural Access: EnergieBedrijven Suriname (EBS) is inviting tenders for solar-plus-battery minigrids and water infrastructure in remote indigenous communities under the Bio-Sweet project, with two lots (10 communities plus 11 energy/water systems for 30 months; five clusters covering 16 Matawai communities for 24 months), applications due Oct. 30. Land & Rights Tech: A new push in the Global South argues that scattered colonial and archival land records can be digitized and fed into digital cadastres by linking land registries with digital humanities, aiming to strengthen land rights registration while preserving historical material. Health Watch: In the US, 89 chikungunya cases have been linked to travel so far this year, with zero local spread reported—shifting the risk from neighborhoods to trip planning and mosquito precautions. Regional Power Debate: Former Caribbean power adviser Delisle Worrell warns distributed solar-and-wind models may raise consumer prices, urging hydroelectric and centrally stored renewables instead. Suriname-India Ties: India’s ambassador to Suriname, Subhash Gupta, met Foreign Minister Alva Baptist and handed over a pedestrian safety Quick Impact Project in Paramaribo. Business & Tech: PBS Group completed its acquisition of Trinidad Systems Limited (TSL), taking full ownership while TSL keeps its brand and leadership continuity. Sports (Caribbean Cup): Club Sando booked the first final-four spot after a goalless draw with Delfines del Este, with Suriname’s SV Broki set to play in the same group race. Mining Update: Founders Metals reported high-grade gold from its Antino project in southeastern Suriname, including 27.0m at 20.38 g/t Au in hole FR251.

Concacaf Caribbean Cup: Club Sando booked the first semifinal spot after a goalless draw with Delfines del Este, reaching seven points from three matches and keeping the pressure on Group A rivals. Regional Business: PBS Group has completed its acquisition of Trinidad Systems Limited (TSL), taking full ownership while TSL keeps operating under its existing brand; TSL CEO Stuart Franco now becomes COO for PBS’s Eastern Caribbean cluster covering Suriname and other OECS states. Amazon Health Cooperation: Guyana assumed the Pro Tempore Presidency of CESAM, with plans to operationalise three subcommissions including Digital Health and Priority Diseases, and to build on Suriname’s malaria elimination experience. Suriname-India Ties: India’s ambassador to Suriname, Subhash Gupta, held talks with Foreign Minister Alva Baptist and handed over a pedestrian safety Quick Impact Project in Paramaribo. Suriname Crime: Search dogs completed a mission in a businessman’s disappearance case. Suriname Rights/Reparations: Zunder says Suriname missed its chance to start its own reparations process. Local Sports (Suriname-linked): SV Broki’s match against Violette AC was highlighted as Group A competition tightens.

Bilateral Cooperation: India’s Ambassador to Suriname Subhash Gupta met Foreign Minister Alva Baptist to discuss strengthening ties, and also handed over a pedestrian safety project in Paramaribo under India’s Quick Impact Projects. Regional Health Governance: Guyana took over as President Pro Tempore of the Amazon health body CESAM, with priorities including operationalising sub-commissions on digital health, environment, gender equity, emerging diseases, and intercultural health. Animal Health Tech: Trinidad and Tobago’s Agriculture Ministry is rolling out a FAO-backed smartphone system to report animal disease events in real time, feeding into national monitoring platforms. Conservation & Communities: Researchers say Afro-descendant territories in parts of the Amazon, including Suriname, show lower deforestation rates, highlighting long-standing forest stewardship. Ethical AI in Suriname: UNESCO’s RAM 2.0 readiness work brought together 106 participants across 67 institutions to map how AI is used and what governance safeguards are needed. Suriname in the Spotlight: A Suriname envoy visited Haridwar for Krishna Janmashtami and joined the Ganga Aarti, describing the experience as deeply spiritual. Sports: Club Sando booked an historic spot in the Concacaf Caribbean Cup final four after a goalless draw with Delfines Del Este.

Suriname-India Diplomacy: India’s Ambassador Subhash Gupta held talks with Suriname’s Foreign Minister Alva Baptist and other senior officials, and handed over a pedestrian safety project in Paramaribo under India’s Quick Impact Projects, with a plaque unveiled by Suriname’s Minister of Public Works and Spatial Planning Stephen Tsang. Local Governance & Safety: The Paramaribo pedestrian safety handover adds to ongoing India–Suriname cooperation in the Golden Jubilee year, focusing on practical improvements for everyday road users. Responsible Tech: Suriname is advancing ethical AI governance with UNESCO’s RAM 2.0 readiness assessment, bringing together 106 participants from 67 institutions across 10 sectors to map AI use, skills needs, and safeguards. Agriculture & Health Systems: While reported for Trinidad and Tobago, a new FAO-backed smartphone system (EMA-i+) is being used to speed up animal disease detection and reporting—an approach Suriname could watch as regional livestock health planning evolves. Environment & Forest Protection: Researchers say Afro-descendant communities in the Amazon help protect forests, with legally recognized territories showing lower deforestation rates than surrounding areas.

India–Suriname Ties: India’s Ambassador Subhash Gupta met Suriname’s FM Alva Baptist and senior ministers to discuss deeper bilateral cooperation, and he also handed over a pedestrian safety project in Paramaribo under India’s Quick Impact Projects. Local Governance & Safety: The Paramaribo pedestrian project adds to India–Suriname cooperation in Suriname’s public works push, with a plaque unveiled by Suriname’s Minister Stephen Tsang and Gupta. Sports (Regional Football): Club Sando FC moved closer to the Concacaf Caribbean Cup knockout stage by beating Defence Force 2-0, with coach Angus Eve saying the team is aiming to emerge from the group. Regional Sports (Boxing): Trinidad and Tobago will field two amateur boxers at the Caribbean Boxing Championships in Guyana on Sept. 12, facing Guyanese opponents on a competitive card. Maritime/Infrastructure (Ferry Warning): A letter urges Guyana and Suriname to use the Canawaima ferry disruptions to agree on a long-term, reliable crossing plan—not just keep the ageing vessel running.

India-Suriname Diplomacy: India’s Ambassador Subhash Gupta met Suriname’s Foreign Minister Alva Baptist and senior ministers to discuss deeper bilateral ties, and handed over an India Quick Impact Project pedestrian safety initiative in Paramaribo. Ethical AI Push: Suriname advanced responsible AI governance with UNESCO’s RAM 2.0 readiness assessment, bringing together 106 participants from 67 institutions to map how AI is used and what safeguards are needed. Regional Sports (Suriname-linked): Club Sando FC moved closer to the Concacaf Caribbean Cup semis, beating Defence Force 2-0 and keeping qualification hopes alive. Crime: Police detained a 17-year-old after pornographic images appeared in a video, following a Suriname crime investigation. Local Community & Safety: The Canawaima ferry service is back in operation, but a letter warns that reopening shouldn’t distract from the need for a long-term, reliable crossing plan. International Spotlight: A Suriname envoy visited Haridwar for Krishna Janmashtami and joined the Ganga Aarti, describing the experience as deeply spiritual.

Suriname-India Diplomacy: India’s Ambassador to Suriname Subhash Gupta met Foreign Minister Alva Baptist to discuss strengthening bilateral ties, and also handed over a pedestrian safety project in Paramaribo under India’s Quick Impact Projects. Local Infrastructure & Safety: The Paramaribo handover adds to India-Suriname cooperation in the Golden Jubilee year, with a plaque unveiled by Suriname’s Minister of Public Works and Spatial Planning Stephen Tsang and the ambassador. Responsible Tech Governance: Suriname is advancing responsible AI governance with UNESCO’s RAM 2.0 readiness assessment, bringing together 106 participants from 67 institutions across 10 sectors to map ethical AI use, skills, and safeguards. Regional Cooperation in Health: Suriname is among 16 Americas countries taking part in a PAHO-led joint meeting to align governance, financing, and integrated service delivery for stronger primary health care. International Mobility: St Vincent and the Grenadines’ passport ranking (48th globally) highlights regional travel access trends relevant to CARICOM travellers.

Diplomacy & Development: India’s Ambassador to Suriname Subhash Gupta met Foreign Minister Alva Baptist and senior ministers on Sept 4 to discuss boosting bilateral ties, and handed over an India Quick Impact Project pedestrian safety initiative in Paramaribo. Spiritual Diplomacy: Suriname Ambassador Hanisha Jairam joined devotees at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar for Krishna Janmashtami’s Ganga Aarti, describing the visit as deeply spiritual. AI Governance: Suriname advanced responsible AI governance with UNESCO’s RAM 2.0 readiness assessment, bringing together 106 participants from 67 institutions across 10 sectors to map ethical AI use and safeguards. Regional Health Cooperation: Suriname took part in a PAHO-led Americas meeting on strengthening primary health care through aligned governance, financing, and integrated service delivery networks. Transport Safety (Letters): A Guyana–Suriname Canawaima ferry crisis sparked calls for a long-term, reliable crossing plan—not just keeping the ageing vessel running. Maritime & Oil Boom Links: Curaçao’s ship-repair sector is eyeing major expansion (including “afloat jobs”) to serve the growing offshore oil and gas demand from Guyana and Suriname.

India–Suriname Diplomacy: India’s Ambassador Subhash Gupta met Suriname’s FM Alva Baptist (with senior ministers Stephenson King and Keithson Hermine Charles) to discuss ways to deepen bilateral ties, and he also handed over an India Quick Impact Project in Paramaribo: a pedestrian safety initiative marked by a plaque unveiling with Public Works Minister Stephen Tsang. Suriname–India Cultural Links: Suriname Ambassador Hanisha Jairam visited Haridwar for Krishna Janmashtami and joined the Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri, saying she felt “energy and the connection” while seeking blessings. AI Governance in Suriname: UNESCO’s RAM 2.0 work advanced in Suriname with a multi-stakeholder session bringing 106 participants from 67 institutions across 10 sectors to map ethical AI use, skills needs, and safeguards. Regional Transport Safety Debate: A letter urges Guyana and Suriname to use the MV Canawaima ferry disruptions to agree on a long-term, reliable crossing plan—warning that reopening alone won’t fix the deeper vulnerability of relying on one ageing vessel.

Ferry Reliability Push: The MV Canawaima is back in service, but a new letter warns Guyana and Suriname must use the disruption to agree on a long-term, reliable crossing—after repeated suspensions tied to safety and technical concerns. Suriname in Haridwar: Suriname Ambassador Hanisha Jairam joined Krishna Janmashtami celebrations at Har Ki Pauri, saying she could “feel the energy and the connection” during the Ganga Aarti. Responsible AI Steps: Suriname is advancing ethical AI governance with UNESCO’s RAM 2.0 readiness assessment, bringing together 106 participants from 67 institutions across 10 sectors. Health System Cooperation: PAHO convened a joint meeting with Suriname and other Americas countries to align governance, financing and integrated service delivery under primary health care. Oil & Offshore Outlook: Reports highlight how offshore growth in Guyana and Suriname is driving regional demand for ship repair and maritime services, with Curaçao’s shipyard expansion plans topping €100 million. Regional Sports: Club Sando moved closer to advancing in the Concacaf Caribbean Cup after beating Defence Force 2-0.

Guyana–Suriname Border Crime: A Guyanese national was arrested in Suriname for allegedly smuggling cough syrup, highlighting ongoing cross-border enforcement. Diplomacy & Culture: Suriname Ambassador Hanisha Jairam visited Haridwar for Krishna Janmashtami and joined the Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri, describing the experience as deeply spiritual and saying she could “feel the energy and the connection.” Citizenship Policy Debate: Suriname legislators are set to debate an amendment to the citizenship and residency act, a move that could reshape how eligibility and residence rules are applied. Responsible Tech Push: Suriname is advancing responsible AI governance with UNESCO’s RAM 2.0 readiness assessment, bringing together 106 participants from 67 institutions to map AI use, skills, and safeguards. Health Systems Cooperation: PAHO-led talks in Brazil bring together 16 countries, including Suriname, to align governance, financing, and integrated service delivery under primary health care. Regional Energy Watch: Offshore oil and gas momentum continues across the region, with coverage noting how Guyana’s output is nearing 1 million barrels daily and how Suriname is increasingly tied into the offshore support-vessel and maintenance market.