Guyanese fishermen now paying US$4500 to rent licences from Surinamese

Fishing boats anchored at a wharf in Berbice.

Guyanese fisherfolk are now being asked to pay US$4500 and over annually to rent fishing licences from Surinamese holders leaving them at their wit’s end as to how they will be able to turn a decent profit this year given the stalemate between the two sides on the licensing of 150 local fishing boats.

In 2021, an agreement between Suriname and Guyana was reached  for 150 fisherfolk here to be granted licences by Paramaribo starting from January 2022 but it is still to be realized after pushback from licence holders in Nickerie who currently rent licences to Guyanese and stand to lose revenue.