— medical evacuations will also be accommodated

THE Canawaima Ferry Service, which plies the Guyana/Suriname route, will only be opened to weekly repatriation trips and health emergency evacuations, according to Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar.

The new arrangement follows a full suspension of the service instituted earlier in the month by the Government of Suriname, in its bid to curb the surge in COVID-19 cases being recorded in the neighbouring country.

“Effective from today to May 2, 2021, only one round trip per week will be facilitated to allow for repatriation. This means that only Guyanese in Suriname can cross over to Guyana and only Surinamese will be able to cross into Suriname,” Indar emphasised.

In a recent broadcast update, the minister explained that only persons authorised by Surinamese officials will be allowed to travel after receiving prior approval.

“No International incoming or outgoing travel will be allowed during the weekends in Suriname due to the lockdown,” Indar noted.

On April 10, the Surinamese Government announced implementation of the mandatory seven-day quarantine period for any person entering the country, whether by air or ferry. Persons were also required to produce a negative PCR test, taken within 72 hours of travel.

A week later, Suriname announced a full suspension of the ferry service altogether, and went into full lockdown mode. However, as part of the latest measures, neither the mandatory quarantine nor the negative PCR test will be required for Surinamese to return home at this time.

Previously, Senior Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, had said that the situation was regrettable and that, at the appropriate time, persons will be advised of the protocols that Guyana plans to institute, given the ongoing situation.

According to the global data, Suriname’s coronavirus cases have surpassed 10,000; recording over 200 deaths, and the figures continue to climb.

As it relates to vaccination efforts, Suriname only received its first dose of COVID-19 vaccines on March 26 of this year. Some 24,000 doses of vaccines were provided to the country through the COVAX Facility, a global effort co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, according to the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO).

“The arrival marks a historic step towards ensuring the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, in the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history. This delivery is part of the first phase of deliveries for Suriname, and more vaccines are expected to arrive successively during 2021,” an article posted on the PAHO/WHO website informed.

It explained that, in accordance with the first round of COVAX allocations, Suriname is expected to continue receiving doses through May 2021 until it reaches 79,200, the amount specified by COVAX.

“Subsequent doses are expected to be received during the second half of the year with total doses deployed to cover up to 20 per cent of the population,” the article noted.

As is being done in almost all parts of the world, the vaccines in Suriname will be administered on a prioritised basis to protect priority and vulnerable groups inclusive of health workers and the elderly.