Suriname’s territorial sea substantially expanded

Suriname’s territory has been extended by 350 sea miles on top of the exclusive 200-mile zone every country bordering with sea is entitled to, De Ware Tijd reported yesterday.

This is due to Suriname’s’ request to the International Maritime Court (ITLOS) to expand its maritime territory, the newspaper said. According to ex-President Ronald Venetiaan, whose government has booked the success, haste should now be made with arming the National Army to protect the territory. The paper added that the success was allegedly booked by a collaboration of the previous government, State Oil and Hans Lim A Po, who negotiated on behalf of Suriname, which wanted the expansion to literally give State Oil more room to search for crude oil in the maritime territory.