– Suriname newspaper comments on Canawaima operations is a surprise – MoPI

STATEMENTS in a January 09, 2020, article published in the Times of Suriname, a newspaper in the bordering country, in particular charging that Guyana has not `upkept’ its side of the agreement, has surprised the Guyana Management for the Canawaima Management Company J.V. and, by extension, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MoPI).
It was the Embassy of Guyana in Suriname that had drawn to the attention of the authorities here, the article headlined, “Canawaima mid-January operational again”, according to a release from the MoPI.

In addition to refuting the allegation, the MoPI sought to set the records straight as regards the M.V. Canawaima and it operations, as the Suriname article falsely insinuated that, “the boat never underwent a thorough renovation since its 20 years of service…This was long overdue, because the Canawaima is a joint-venture of two countries and Guyana was unresponsive in contributing to maintenance expense as is stipulated in the agreement”.
Highlighting the responsibilities assigned to the Management of Guyana Canawaima Ferry Service, the MoPI stated that from 2004 to 2019, Guyana has been funding the expenses for fuel, lubricant and batteries supplied to the M.V Canawaima/M.B Sandaka as well as salaries for the Sandaka crew.

The M.B Sandaka is a Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) vessel currently operating the Moleson Creek, Guyana to South Drain, Suriname route under contract, with the Canawaima being unserviceable.

The total expenses, according to the T&HD records, amounted to G$110, 982, 794 (one hundred and ten million, nine hundred eighty-two thousand and seven hundred ninety-four dollars), the release stated. Furthermore, Guyana was not required to pay the cost for the docking of the vessel, it added.

The MoPI release further stated that Guyana has all of its documentation, receipts and files to prove its positions and accountability on the subject matter, so as to nullify the insinuation from the Surinamese representatives.

It added that with all that has been written, the GoG has been willing on every end to keep the Canawaima Ferry Service operational for the benefit of both Guyana and Suriname. This is evident because on every occasion of the Canawaima vessel being inoperable, Guyana has in every situation provided a substitute vessel to continue the relations between the two counterparts, as well as the full charter cost.

As a consequence of this, a decision was made between the parties that Suriname will undertake all docking cost associated with the vessel.

In the good spirit of 2020, we wish that the Canawaima Ferry can go into dock and have the necessary repairs and maintenance executed so that the vessel can resume its operations in the shortest possible time, the release concluded.

In December 2019, a source on the Guyana side and close to the ferry’s operation, had told this publication that their Surinamese counterparts had communicated that all the needed repairs on the vessel were completed. Also, that the vessel was to have embarked on a trial-run before resuming its schedule on December 01, 2019.

That resumption date did not materalise.
Subsequently, a team of local engineers from the T&HD and the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) conducted a `spot visit’ to South Drain where the vessel is moored on the mudflat. To their dismay, they found that the report given was totally untrue, also that the ferry was “far from ready” to resume operations, the source said.
“I cannot understand how it was reported that the vessel was ready to be taken on a trial-run, when, among other things, the engineers found that the foot of the engine is not even bolted down. Also, they found no evidence of some other repairs being undertaken was done,” the source had said, adding that it was the first time that repairs were being undertaken on the MV Canawaima without the involvement of the Guyanese engineers, the source explained.

The source had opined, too, that the type of work needed to be effected on the engine should see the vessel being taken into a dockyard and hoisted to allow for the proper aligning of the engine foot, before it is secured.

Under the joint bilateral agreement, all costs incurred by the vessel would be jointly shared, and the source had revealed that Guyana had conducted these audits up to 2018.
However, there is no documentation to show that such an inspection had ever been done at the Suriname end. Also, whenever repairs are done on the vessel, Suriname would forward bills without much details to Guyana for their contribution to the cost.

“If we are talking of progress, everyone needs to be involved and all aspects must be consolidated; not one side doing an audit of their operations and the other having nothing to show for years,” the source had said.