The Corentyne River Bridge, a major project designed to enhance bilateral relations between Guyana and Suriname, faces potential setbacks, due to delays on the Surinamese side, according to the country’s Public Works Minister, Riad Nurmohamed.
“The money is there, that is not the problem. The problem is determining the right moment to place the investment in the economy,” the Suriname minister is quoted as saying in the Surinamese media. He reportedly said that Suriname can cough up its share of approximately US$118 million, but financing remains a sensitive issue given the country’s high national debt.
With an estimated cost of US$236 million, the Corentyne River Bridge will span 3.1 kilometers, connecting Moleson Creek in Guyana to South Drain in Suriname, with an additional landing on Long Island in the Corentyne River.
The bridge’s completion will significantly improve connectivity, facilitate trade and tourism, and further cement the growing economic relations between the two South American nations.
President Irfaan Ali of Guyana and President Chandrikapersad Santokhi of Suriname have both championed the project as a key breakthrough in regional connectivity, particularly within the Guyana-Suriname-Brazil energy corridor.
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Minister Nurmohamed explained that the country’s debt—currently at US$4 billion—presents a complex issue. Annual payments on the debt amount to US$300 to $500 million, an amount that far exceeds the cost of the bridge. Suriname is required to contribute 50% of total cost of the infrastructure.
In its just-approved 2025 budget, the Guyana government set aside GY$5 billion (US$23.9 million) for the project.
Designed to last 100 years, the bridge will accommodate vessels up to 47,000 deadweight tonnage. Beyond its energy and transportation benefits, the project also envisions a commercial hub, featuring hotels, recreational spaces, and farmers’ markets to boost economic development.
The Chinese state-owned China Road & Bridge Corporation (CRBC) won the bid for the construction of the bridge, according to Guyana’s Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill.
In March 2024, Presidents Ali and Santokhi reiterated their commitment to finalizing financing and operational modalities, viewing the bridge as a major link between Georgetown and Paramaribo to promote cross-border relations.
