BY JUHEL BROWNE

Guyana is now seeking to have its long-standing border dispute with its South American neighbour, Suriname, arbitrated under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

This makes Guyana the second Caricom state within the last two weeks to undertake such an initiative, as Barbados has submitted its maritime border disputes with T&T to UNCLOS arbitration process.

News of Guyana’s move concerning its border dispute with Suriname came just one day after the Guardian reported that Guyana and Barbados had secretly signed an Exclusive Economic Zone Treaty last December.

Guyana’s Starbroek News reported Guyana invoking Article 287 of UNCL0S and also sought provisional relief, pending the decision, from Guyanese fishermen being harassed in the Corentyne River.

Guyana also wants to be allowed to explore and exploit hydrocarbon and other resources in the area of its maritime territory that Suriname is claiming as its own.

Starbroek News also reported UN Secretary General Kofi Annan received notification of Guyana’s action on Wednesday and the Caricom Secretary General Edwin Carrington was also informed.

Guyana’s High Consul to T&T Ernie Ross did not return any messages left at his office