Official reports from Suriname indicate that President Desi Bouterse is expected in Guyana on a two-day state visit next week.

Desi Bouterse

Acting Surinamese President, Robert Ameerali told reporters in the neighbouring country yesterday that Bouterse will visit on September 6 and 7; no specific details of the trip were released. However, Ameerali pointed out that the President is personally handling the trip.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett is currently out of the country and efforts to contact officials at the Ministry proved futile yesterday; additionally there was no word from government officials.

Earlier reports out of Suriname had indicated that Bouterse is expected to pay his first state visit to Venezuela also next week. A report in the English bulletin of de Ware Tijd (DWT) said that the Surinamese President will meet  with his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez and discussions  will centre on joint projects.

The Suriname delegation to Venezuela is expected to include Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Lackin and First Lady Ingrid Bouterse.   The Suriname leader is also scheduled to be in the United States to attend the United Nations General Assembly from September 22 to 27, DWT said.