2 additional ferries to be purchased for Regions 1 & 2 – Edghill

– MV Kimbia to become cargo transportation

The people of Region One (Barima/Waini) and Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) can look forward to two new ferries, an announcement that was made by Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill, during day four of the budget debates.
During his budget presentation, Edghill noted that in addition to the two new vessels that will be purchased as per an allocation in the $1.3 trillion 2025 budget, he also revealed that the MV Kimbia, which has been in operation since the 1950’s, will be converted to transporting cargo.

“The people of Region One and the people of Region Two, will be proud to hear that budget 2025 has an allocation for the purpose of purchasing additional vessels. Ferry vessels. The MV MA Lisha is there. We are now in the dockyard, coming out with the MV Kimbia, which will be dedicated to the transportation of cargo.”
“We have the MV Barima. Taking it to Region One, we are about to buy another vessel to put on the Region One route, even though we have moved from going twice a month to now several times a month,” Edghill said.
Referencing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament Juliet Coonjah, who hails from Region Two, Edghill noted that the new ferry being procured for the region will ply the Parika/Supenaam route.
“You hear the honourable member, Juliet Coonjah, stand here last time and thank the Ministry, for what is happening on the Parika/Supenaam route, where some days up to eight trips are being made. The people of Region Two must know that budget 2025, monies are in it to purchase another ferry vessel for region number two, to ply between Parika and Supenaam.”
In 2023, government had launched a spanking new ferry, MV MA Lisha which provides transportation between Georgetown and Region One. The ferry, which was built by the Indian firm Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE), set sail on its inaugural journey with a full complement of passengers.
The North West ferry has a capacity of up to 276 passengers, along with 18 crew members, and also carries 14 sedan-type vehicles and two trucks. It can also accommodate up to 250 tonnes of cargo with cold storage facilities.
It also comprises a front loading/offloading ramp that can accommodate easy loading and discharging of cargo at ports she will call on. The vessel also has a side boarding capacity. A total of 19 navigational, mechanical, and auxiliary staff of the Transport and Harbours Department were trained in India in 2022 and earlier in 2023, to operate the new ferry vessel.
The government meanwhile also has plans for a new regional ferry service which is being facilitated through a joint venture between the Governments of Guyana, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago and will be operated out of Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) when it comes on stream.
Back in May 2022, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago had embarked on setting up a ferry service between the two countries to transport people and cargo.
In January of last year, it was reported that the Trinidad and Tobago Cabinet had approved the use of that country’s Galleons Passage vessel to operate the ferry service between the twin-island republic and Guyana.
The vessel can accommodate 400 passengers and 60 cars. Among the facilities onboard are a cafeteria, a bar, and a VIP lounge.