Guyana and Suriname have agreed to ask the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) to fund the feasibility of building a river bridge between the two neighbouring South American nations, a senior official said Saturday.

The Foreign Minister of Guyana, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett told Demerara Waves Online News (www.demwaves.com) that the hemispheric bank would be approached in another two weeks to conduct the study.

She explained that the study would focus on the environmental and social impacts of bridging the Corentyne River which borders the two countries.

The decision to ask the IDB to assist with the study was made by Guyana’s President, Donald Ramotar and his Surinamese counterpart, Desi Bouterse during the Guyanese leader’s working visit to the former Dutch colony.

“They decided on a joint approach towards the IDB for the purpose of identifying modalities for financing,” they said in a joint communiqué.

Ramotar and Bouterse say the bridge across the Corentyne River would “considerably enhance trade and economic relations as well as cultural exchanges between the peoples of the two countries.”

The land-route between Guyana and Suriname is being served by a European Union-funded ferry since 1998 but that has not deterred rickety wooden boats from operating at an illegal port.