–says smaller vessels contracted to serve Port Kaituma until corrective works are completed
THE government has assured residents of the North West District that ferry services remain uninterrupted despite the recent MV Barima tragedy, with alternative arrangements already in place to maintain connectivity to Port Kaituma.
This was disclosed by Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, during his press conference on Monday.
He said the regular ferry schedule to the region has not been affected, as the MV Ma Lisha continues to operate its scheduled route from Georgetown to Mabaruma.
Phillips related that the MV Ma Lisha docks at the Kumaka waterfront in Mabaruma, while the smaller MV Barima had previously operated the Georgetown-to-Port Kaituma route because it was better suited to the existing docking facilities there.
With the loss of the MV Barima, Phillips said the government has implemented contingency measures to ensure residents continue to receive reliable ferry service.
“The MV Ma Lisha will continue its regular trips from Georgetown to Kumaka, and smaller vessels have already been contracted to do the trip from Kumaka to Port Kaituma, so we still maintain the regular ferry service,” the Prime Minister stated.
Against this backdrop, he disclosed that corrective works currently underway at the Port Kaituma waterfront are expected to be completed by January 2027.
According to Phillips, once those upgrades are finished, the improved facilities will be capable of accommodating the larger MV Ma Lisha, allowing the vessel to sail directly to Port Kaituma instead of terminating its journey at Kumaka.
“The corrective work is likely to finish earliest by January 2027, and once that corrective work is finished, it means that the MV Ma Lisha will not only now go to Kumaka but also go to Port Kaituma,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s comments come as the government continues to respond to the aftermath of the MV Barima tragedy while working to ensure essential transportation services to the North West District remain operational.
