Georgetown: Fewer passengers and vehicles are using the Canawaima Ferry Service at Moleson Creek, Corriverton, Transport Minister, Robeson Benn has said.
The ferry service is jointly operated by Guyana and Suriname. The reason for the drop in travel is largely due to the many speedboats that provide “backtrack” service, which the Guyana Government has been trying to discourage. It has even moved last year to purchase a fast boat named “Manatee” to compete with the smaller vessels operated by private individuals along the Corentyne Coast.
Speaking at a news conference on Friday last, Benn said, with plans for a bridge across the Corentyne River, his ministry is looking at tackling the backtrack trade. But in the absence of the bridge, the ministry is hoping to put a dent in the trade with the use of the “Manatee.”
According to Benn, the vessel will provide safe and secure, as well as legal means of crossing the river to get to neighbouring Suriname. “It’s unsafe, it’s illegal (and) there are issues with respect to the security of passengers… so that is why the Manatee was acquired,” he stated.
The minister pointed out that there are about two or three locations, unregulated crossings that persons used and have lost their lives due to river accidents. He added that there are other issues that need to be taken into consideration such as piracy, river theft and loss of revenues.
There was a drop in the number of passengers using that route in the 2014 records of the Canawaima Ferry Service.
The number of passengers that travelled, using that service dropped by eight per cent with a mere 132,625 recorded while the number of vehicles barely increased by one per cent to 13,172. However, the ferry service managed to secure an increase of $182,695,505 or US$64,163.
However, Manager of the Moleson Creek Terminal, Louise Williams, said based on projections, the number of passengers and vehicles using the ferry service will increase by five per cent during the course of this year.
Moreover, Benn explained that one of the problems is the fact that the Canawaima Ferry Service has only one or two crossings per day, as such persons decide to use the illegal crossings as an alternative to get to Suriname. M.V. Canawaima is expected to be docked sometime this year for approximately two to three weeks for the replacement of some plates. Nevertheless, the minister said that the authorities will be doing whatever it takes to clamp down on the illegal trade and crossing at that route, hence the acquisition of the Manatee to aid in providing faster and more frequent service.
Benn pointed out that while arrangements are being worked out with Suriname, as it relates to the new vessel servicing the route, the Manatee will be used by the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for the training of marine cadets.
Meanwhile, Benn said that the Public Works Ministry has been executing works on the roads that will lead to Corentyne River Bridge. He disclosed that works are ongoing to prepare some 2.5 kilometres of roadways on Guyana’s side. This includes the construction of three major bridges.
“So we will have those ready for the time when the bridge will land on our side,” he said while adding that the surveys and issues relating to land acquisition are currently being pursued. “We would want to be ready when those issues on the other side of the current river are resolved with respect to the funding and so on for the bridge,” Benn added.
On the issue of financing for the bridge, the Works Minister revealed that his Government is not privy to the current issues of financing since neighbouring Suriname is tasked with securing the finance. However, Benn noted that Government was advised by the neighbouring Government, that it is working assiduously to have financial closure.
He explained that the Surinamese Government is responsible for the financing of the bridge while Guyana is responsible for the paving of roads to the bridge. Several meetings were held last year between the two countries.
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