A bond beyond diplomacy – President Ali honours Santokhi’s legacy

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali on Tuesday delivered a heartfelt tribute to the late former Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, describing him as “a brother” and “a true friend.”

Speaking at the funeral service at the De Olifant Foundation, Dr Ali reflected on their close bond and the spirit of cooperation that strengthened relations between Guyana and Suriname.

“…When something passed between us – not spoken, only felt – a chemistry, gentle and real…, untouched by ambition, it was not forced nor fashioned by ceremony. It was simply there, two men who recognised something familiar in one another. That moment did more than bind us as friends”, Dr Ali said.

He added, “What began as a murmur between two presidents became a river between two nations. And what grew between us was not diplomacy alone,… it was fraternity. To me, President Santokhi was like a brother”.

Dr Ali said Santokhi believed the fortunes of Guyana and Suriname were braided together, and had worked to ensure that partnership would live “through people, markets, and the small boats that cross the river connecting us.”

The Guyanese president said the last time Santokhi sent him a message was on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, and he advised him to take a break by visiting Guyana.  

“But he couldn’t make that time. Mellisa, when you are ready after the mourning period, come to Guyana to still take that vacation. We are a family,” the president said, addressing the former First Lady.

The president described Santokhi as a calm and principled leader: “When anger could have flared, he chose stillness. When others might have raised a fist, he opened a door. On sensitive ground, he walked with grace to preserve harmony.”

The president said that Santokhi reminded everyone that small states, standing shoulder to shoulder, can achieve what neither could alone, stating that he called for mutually beneficial ties.

President Ali reminisced on long, late-night talks shared with Santokhi and Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley. “Once, during a CARICOM meeting in Suriname, we spoke until 5:30 a.m. When we left, he said, ‘We’ll do a morning run later.’”

Closing his tribute, Dr Ali vowed to continue the vision they shared: “I will press on for the realisation of those dreams and aspirations. May God grant you eternal rest, and may your family find comfort knowing you lived with humility, honour, and service.”

Under Santokhi’s presidency (2020–2025), Guyana–Suriname relations deepened through the Strategic Dialogue and Cooperation Platform, joint energy and agricultural policies, and the planned Corentyne River Bridge.

Santokhi, Suriname’s ninth president and longtime leader of the Progressive Reform Party, passed away in late March. He was cremated in Uitkijk, Saramacca district, following two days of national mourning.