The Government of Guyana has strongly objected to a map presented at a recent International Business Conference in Paramaribo, Suriname, which inaccurately depicted the New River Triangle as Surinamese territory. Guyana was represented at the conference by Virjanand Depoo, Guyana’s Ambassador to Suriname, and other officials.
In a statement, Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation made it clear that its officials’ presence at the event did not imply endorsement of the map. The ministry stated, “The map was included in a publication that was distributed by the Surinamese hosts to attendees at the conference.”
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“The Government of Guyana was not consulted about the map prior to its distribution. Had it been consulted, it would have strongly objected,” the ministry stated.
The ministry reaffirmed that the New River Triangle remains part of Guyana’s internationally recognized territory, based on a legally binding agreement between Brazil, Great Britain, and The Netherlands in 1936. It cited the decision of a joint British-Dutch-Brazilian boundary commission, which established the source of the Kutari River as the tri-junction point where Guyana, Suriname, and Brazil meet.
A monument marks this boundary, and the agreement signed by representatives of all three states defines it clearly: “The mixed commission, being satisfied that this is the only river which in any way answers to the Schomburgk description of the Kutari agreed that the boundary between Surinam and British Guiana, as defined in the instructions issued to the Mixed Commission, should follow the left bank of its longest branch.”
The ministry said that Guyana has consistently upheld this boundary and exercised sovereignty over the New River Triangle.
“Any depiction suggesting otherwise is inaccurate and does not reflect the legally established boundary,” the statement said.
The Guyana government has restated its commitment to maintaining “strong and cooperative relations with the Republic of Suriname,” while continuing discussions through established diplomatic channels.
