(de Ware Tijd) BRUSSELS – Suriname has been expelled from the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) for failing to pay its contribution in the past eight years. The backlog has increased to US$ 3.2 million. CTO marketing director Carol Hay confirms this to dWT, adding that this decision was made in September 2011 already. Armand Li-A-Young, director of the Suriname Tourism Foundation (STS) explains that membership contributions are expensive. “The CTO’s by-laws are clear; failing to pay your contribution for eight years, will get you expelled”.

The annual contribution is US$ 200,000, while an additional contribution must be paid to the regional marketing fund, totaling US$ 400.000 a year. Besides, the amount of the membership contribution is also determined by a conversion factor; the more tourists are recorded visiting a CTO member state, the higher the contribution that must be paid. “We must decide soon how to deal with this”, Li-A-Young emphasizes. Minister Falisie Pinas of Tourism (TCT) regrets the expulsion, and promises the government will make up the arrears in contribution very soon.

The government has prioritized development of the tourism sector and being a CTO member is a significant step towards achieving that goal. Meanwhile, the government, since nit holds the CARICOM chair, has decided all contributions owed to regional organizations will be paid before this term expires. Minister Pinas also says the CTO has much expertise and many networks available that could be of help to Suriname in the further development of its tourism sector. In period ahead, the government will evaluate Suriname’s membership in several regional and international organizations in order to determine their benefits and whether it would be better to end membership.