President Donald Ramotar on Friday left for Suriname- his first overseas visit since he was elected- where he will hold talks with President Desi Bouterse

“The two Presidents will discuss a range of issues aimed at further consolidating the relations between Guyana and Suriname,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry here said in a statement.

Guyana and Suriname have already agreed to bridge the bordering Corentyne River. The law enforcement agencies also cooperate in the detention and return of criminals as well as fighting growing piracy, the trade in narcotics and weapons.

However, Guyanese police and soldiers do not traverse the Corentyne River which Suriname claims as hers, making it difficult to counter criminal activities on the waterway.

Demerara Waves Online News (www.demwaves.com ) understands that the two sides will also discuss mining and energy issues.

President Ramotar’s delegation to the Working Visit includes Police Chief of Criminal Investigations, Assistant Commissioner Seelall Persaud and Lt. Col Omar Khan.

Other members of the Guyanese delegation include Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett; Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Elisabeth Harper; Guyana's  Ambassador to Suriname, Merlin Udho, and Ambassador-designate to Suriname Keith George.

While the two  member-nations of Caricom and UNASUR have settled their maritime boundary dispute, they are yet to resolve their dispute over the New River Triangle.