The governments of Guyana and Suriname will be approaching the private sector for a temporary operation of the Guyana-Suriname Ferry Service while the MV Canawaima undergoes necessary repairs.
This was announced by President of Suriname Chan Santokhi during a joint press conference in Paramaribo yesterday.
“We agreed, as two leaders, as two Presidents that we’ll have a call to the public sector – Guyana, Suriname- but also to the private sector to look for solutions while that vessel will be on dock so that those sectors can come with a temporary solution by putting in place a ferry which can start with the operation again,” he said.
Santokhi explained that as part of its cooperation’s efforts a working group from the two countries will examine a report of the condition of the vessel prepared by the Maritime Authority of Suriname and make a decision about necessary repairs including a timeline for the vessel to be brought to dry.
In May last year the ferry service, which normally operated daily between Moleson Creek, Guyana and South Drain, Suriname was suspended.
The management of the Guyana-Suriname Ferry Service, through the Department of Public Information (DPI), announced the suspension of operations and announced that the Canawaima Ferry had been experiencing mechanical difficulties for some time and a decision was taken to have the vessel assessed and repaired.
Government had expressed concern at the inconvenience to travellers while saying that this country had been funding most of the maintenance over the years. It had also noted that the vessel’s engine “had been limping for some time and [the ferry] was being towed by a tug” during its trips between the two countries.
In August then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Karen Cummings express-ed optimism that the matter would be resolved soon. She said that Guyana has always held up its end of the agreement in relation to the operation of the service.
“Speculation about the Government of Guyana taking on the obligation of entirely funding a joint enterprise of this type is erroneous. It is not in keeping with the bilateral agreement signed between the two countries that governs the obligations of both States regarding the operations of the ferry service. That agreement is still functional. There is no onus on Guyana to fund the replacement of the service either temporarily or permanently. The joint company has to ensure that the monies collected by or on behalf of the business are properly directed to defraying the expenses incurred,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had said in a statement following the suspension of the service.
