…study to review border-control measures, passenger comfort, convenience

TRAVELLERS on both sides of the Corentyne River greeted news of the restart of operations of the Guyana-Suriname ferry service with a mix of relief and enthusiasm, underscoring the importance of the ferry link between the territories and the extent of the inconvenience suffered during the period of suspension of the ferry service.
The Ministry of Business said that the Guyana Tourism Authority figures point to increases in traffic between Guyana and Suriname.

“Passage through South Drain, on the Suriname side, and Moleson Creek, on the Guyana side reflects travels originating in Suriname, French Guiana, as well as in other points of origin in South America. A cross-river facility is therefore indispensable to any flow of traffic originating beyond Guyana’s eastern border, said the Ministry of Business in its release.
It said that the Department of Tourism in the Ministry of Business recently convened a Task Force to organise a Tourism Expo of the Guianas, scheduled for the first weekend in February 2020.

“As part of the planning for this event, a tourism delegation from Guyana visited Paramaribo, Suriname, to meet tourism stakeholders, share and listen to perspectives regarding the Guianas as a single geo-destination. In discussions in both Suriname and French Guiana, the matter of connectivity loomed large. While there are four or more air carriers connecting Guyana and Suriname, the ferry link was seen as important to the viability of the Guianas concept, second only in significance to the construction of an actual bridge that links Guyana with Suriname,” the ministry said.

Hassle-free travel
The release noted that while restoration of the ferry service is welcome, the body of rules and requirements that governs trans-border movements is critical to the ease of travel between the territories.

“Most desirable is that such arrangements, whether relating to visas, movement of goods, leisure or business travel, must occur with the minimum of hassle or inconvenience to the travelling public,” the release said. It said further that a total systems review would look at all aspects of the travel experience to ensure that security and control are not achieved at the expense of passenger comfort and convenience.