The government has announced that it is collaborating with the Kwakwani Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) in Region 10 to implement measures to ensure the smooth functioning of the barge service, which it says, is “crucial” to the community’s mining and logging sector.
This was stated in a release on Wednesday from the Ministry of Public Works which also informed that Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, along with Demerara Harbour Bridge General Manager, Wayne Watson, and MARAD Director General, Stephen Thomas, visited the community on Wednesday to get a first-hand look at the situation.
Contrary to rumours of the barge sinking, the officials was found that this important piece of infrastructure was in need of urgent repairs, as it was determined by the technical team to have outlived its usefulness.
As such, loggers were informed that the barge will undergo critical repairs over the weekend to be operational by Monday.
According to the release, the government will be providing fuel, at its own expense, to ensure that users are transported across the river from Wednesday until Friday. After which, the barge will be docked on Saturday and Sunday to facilitate the much-needed repairs. A technical team, led by will be deployed to Kwakwani to conduct the repairs.
Meanwhile, the Transport and Harbours Department will deploy a new vessel, the MV Baramani, to provide relief to those traversing the Berbice River crossing. This vessel is expected to arrive in Kwakwani within one week or more. Loggers were also informed that the government is also considering the procurement of a new barge, with this decision to be made by members of the cabinet.
The release expressed that these multifaceted measures will ensure that the main commercial activities in Kwakwani are not affected in any form.
Edghill emphasised the government’s commitment to working with the NDC to prevent disruptions to the community’s livelihoods, which he underscored are critical to Kwakwani’s economy and development. And NDC Chairperson, Michell Simeon, expressed relief and thanked the government for its prompt response, while loggers and other stakeholders also voiced their appreciation for the interventions, the release added.
