THE much anticipated arrival of the two roll-on, roll-off ferries from China, which will be put to ply the Parika/Supenaam route and eliminate much of the transportation woes currently being experienced by commuters, is imminent. An official at the Chinese Embassy in Georgetown confirmed yesterday that the vessels departed China, en route to Guyana, on October 27 and should be here well before Christmas.
The Governments of Guyana and China, on December 22, 2010, signed an agreement for the building of the ships, at a cost of US$14M, with a promise from the builders that they would be delivered before the end of this year.
The cost to build the ships, however, does not include additional charges for supervision of the works and transporting them to Guyana.
It is anticipated that when the ferries begin operating, the flow of people and goods across the Essequibo River will increase significantly, as the turnaround of the system will be much more efficient and timely.
BK International, which constructed the new roll-on, roll-off stelling at Good Hope on the Essequibo Coast, from where the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) now conducts its operations, will soon commence works to upgrade the Parika and Good Hope wharves, to accommodate the new vessels.
The Guyana Chronicle understands that the two new ferries which have been given Amerindian names are being transported from China on a larger ship to a deep-water harbour in the Caribbean and other arrangements have been made to bring them from there to Guyana.
Yesterday, another section of the media reported on a demolition exercise to remove several stalls which encroach on the Government reserves in the vicinity of the Parika wharf.
The exercise is necessary in view of the upgrading to be done and for which mobilisation has already commenced, according to a senior BK official.