On the sidelines of the 6th annual Suriname Energy, Oil & Gas Summit and Exhibition (SEOGS), top leaders of Suriname and Grenada have held high-level talks focused on expanding bilateral and regional collaboration across multiple priority sectors, laying new groundwork for strengthened ties within the Caribbean Community (Caricom).
Suriname’s President Jennifer Simons hosted Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell for the closed-door meeting at the Surinamese presidential palace on Tuesday, during the energy conference that has drawn regional and global industry and government leaders this year. This meeting marked Mitchell’s first participation in a major regional energy-focused conference, after he accepted a personal invitation from Simons to attend the 2026 SEOGS.
In statements released by Suriname’s Communication Service following the meeting, President Simons emphasized the fundamental value of robust bilateral partnerships among Caricom member states as small island and developing Caribbean nations navigate shifting global economic conditions and shared cross-border challenges. “As nations working to unlock new economic opportunities while confronting pressing global challenges, it is essential that we continue exchanging expertise and exploring pathways for closer collaboration, particularly in energy development, sustainable growth, climate resilience, and economic diversification,” Simons said. She added that Mitchell’s attendance at the 2026 SEOGS created an ideal opportunity to deepen bilateral relations and advance aligned policy goals shared by the two countries.
For his part, Prime Minister Mitchell commended Suriname’s approach to developing its emergent oil and gas sector, noting that the South American Caribbean nation has emerged as a responsible model for resource development. “We look to Suriname as an example of a country that pursues oil and gas exploration in a responsible manner while advancing the core economic interests of its people,” Mitchell said. Like Suriname, Grenada is currently working to develop its own domestic oil and gas industry, making knowledge-sharing and collaboration in this sector a top talking point for the bilateral meeting.
Beyond energy development, the two leaders covered a wide range of shared regional priorities, including renewable energy expansion, food security, improved regional connectivity, and the growing impacts of climate change. Mitchell noted that these cross-cutting issues form a strong foundation for deeper collective action across all Caricom member states. He also highlighted that small island developing states (SIDS) like Grenada remain disproportionately vulnerable to climate change, and require increased international financial support to build resilience and recover from climate-linked disasters.
The Grenadian prime minister also extended praise for Suriname’s longstanding environmental leadership, noting the country has maintained its status as one of the world’s few carbon-negative nations through the conservation of its vast tropical forest landscapes. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continued high-level engagement to advance collaborative projects that deliver mutual benefit and support shared regional development goals within Caricom.