Guyana has managed to secure a line of credit to the tune of US$8M for the procurement of a new ferry, which is expected to service the North West District, in Region One. According to Transport Minister, Mr. Robeson Benn, the two ferries currently serving the District have been around for decades, and because of this age factor, there has been a decline in the standard of service on offer, which commuters certainly do not deserve.

“We have brought in the Kimbia and the Northcote; they are the old accommodation … And the economics of operating is very poor; it doesn’t match any standard that we would like to have,” Minister Benn said.

He said it is for the foregoing reasons that the Administration has been making every effort, for a number of years now, to acquire a new vessel. “We have been looking for a replacement,” he said. “It takes 24 or more hours to get to Port Kaituma, and we anticipate halving the travel time.”
He said his ministry has already sent a proposed design and marine specifications to the Indian Government, which has been tasked with looking for a ferry that can travel at 16 to 23 nautical miles per hour.
The introduction of such a vessel, Minister Benn said, would allow for more cargo and passengers, and so those who are plying their trades can be able to move freely in a shorter time.
“We desire comfort for our people, and we want to have the basic 21st Century marine travel for our people,” he said.
He said that with this new ferry that will soon be coming on board to the public transportation sector, the Government will be looking at re-introducing the Berbice River Ferry service to Ebini, as this was removed since the 1980s.
Minister Benn added that as the marine transport sector continues to develop, it is his hope that the citizens benefiting from the services will see some tangible development in their lives as well.
President Donald Ramotar, who recently made his first official State visit to India, has secured a US$58M Line of Credit (LoC) to fund the new East Bank-East Coast Demerara bypass road, as well as to add an additional passenger ferry to Guyana’s current fleet. (GINA)