(Kaieteur News) – The government of Suriname has unilaterally scrapped its joint infrastructure venture with Guyana, announcing it will fully finance and manage the construction of the planned Corentyne (Corentyne) River Bridge on its own.

The announcement, delivered late Monday by Surinamese Minister of Public Works and Spatial Planning Stephen Tsang according to Surinamese news outlet Suriname Nieuws, caught Guyanese authorities entirely off guard.

Speaking exclusively to Guyanese media outlet Demerara Waves on Tuesday, Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali responded to the declaration, stating, “That’s news to me”.