facing the same problems. Local administrators and tribal leaders from French Guiana recently held a meeting at Maripasula to discuss the illegal gold mining, environment pollution and issues regarding the border between Suriname and French Guiana. At the meeting it was made agreed to organize a meeting between the tribal leaders from both countries. The French tribal leaders want to strengthen the relations with their Surinamese counterparts and find joint solutions to them problems that occur on both sides of the Marowijne River. The communities from both sides of the Marowijne River see the illegal gold mining activities and the rising pollution along the shores as issues that must be addressed as soon as possible. Garbage is reportedly dumped along the Surinamese side of the river where there is no garbage management and this garbage eventually ends up at the communities that are located on the French side. Maripasula also wants to breathe new life into the so-called River Council. The government’s representative and the district commissioner will be invited to the first meeting of the River Council. The mayor and the community team from Maripasula explained that the meeting that was held recently marks the start of  structural cooperation where tribal leaders are asked for their point of view on issues that communities that are located along the river face.