We were greeted with the news just a few days ago that the ‘MV Torani’, one of the two boats which ply the Essequibo River, and provide transportation for people on the islands and coast, ran aground after developing engine trouble between Hogg Island and Wakenaam, both islands on the Essequibo River.
While we are aware that Hogg Island and Wakenaam are two scheduled stops of the ferry en route to Supenaam on the Essequibo Coast, we also recognise that most of the sandbanks found in the Essequibo River are found  in the vicinity of Hogg Island, and many boats (ferries) have run aground there on countless occasions in the past.
We however, concede that had there been no engine failure on the ‘Torani,’ the captain would have had better manoeuvrability, and the vessel might not have been grounded.
In the first instance, the complete episode looked like a ‘comedy of errors.’ Reports  from Parika are that prior to the ‘Torani’ leaving Parika for Supenaam, it had developed engine trouble which caused a delay of about four hours.
After the long delay, the boat finally departed Parika  downloaded with cargo and passengers. But the passengers’ pain of going through the rigours of another delay became evident when the ferry developed engine failure again and the boat ran aground. The crippled ‘Torani’ had to be later towed to the Supenaam stelling  to undergo repairs.
It is rather unfortunate that the hundreds of Essequibo-bound passengers along with their cargo had to be so inconvenienced. We would not attempt to make excuses for the undue hardships the people suffered because of the delay, but note should be taken that both the ‘Torani’ and ‘Malali’ are more than 50 years old, having been built in the 1960s.
While the ‘Torani’ was dispatched to handle the Berbice River crossing, the ‘MV Malali’ was sent to Parika to ferry the mighty Essequibo River where it worked untiringly and now its feeble back could bear the vehicular and human burdens no more.
We also recall the pomp and style that accompanied the launching of the ‘MV Malali’ before making its maiden voyage from Parika to Adventure.
The christening was done by the Minister of Communication in the then PPP government, E. M. G. Wilson with coconut water. This christening  with the coconut water earned the minister the nickname ‘Coco Wilson’.
We recognise that the current government has taken note of the “tired” condition of these ferries and has since ordered two from China. These two ferries have already arrived in the country and are ready to be launched into the Essequibo service. However, unlike the current ferries that we have at the moment, the two ferries from China are the roll-on /roll-off type.
It is important to note that because of the change in design of the ferries from China, adjustments have to be made to our stellings here to accommodate the change.
At the moment, workers are working feverishly and untiringly to get the stellings ready  for the two ferries. These ferries have been built specially for the transport of passengers and cargo, and like the thousands of people, including businessmen and farmers on the Essequibo, we also wait with  growing interest, the launching of the two ferries. It will be a great day for the people of the Essequibo and indeed the entire population of Guyana.