With relations between Guyana and Suriname experiencing a unique moment in the history of the two South American republics, the authorities in the respective capitals, Georgetown and Paramaribo, would, one feels, be decidedly reluctant to break a lance over an issue that has remained a bone of contention between the two countries. For several years hundreds of fisher folk from the Guyana side of the Corentyne River have complained to the authorities here about what they say are the extortionist pursuits of the Surinamese military who seek to extract a toll from the intrepid fishermen whenever their boats are encountered in the river.
