$5B port facility at Parika: No disruption to ferry, water taxi services as works begin on modern port

The Government has commenced preparations for the construction of a modern $5 billion port facility at Parika, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), promising no disruption to ferry and water taxi services during the construction phase.
This assurance was given by Public Works Ministers Juan Edghill and Deodat Indar during a multi-stakeholder engagement with representatives from the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD), Maritime Administration (MARAD), Immigration, local businesses, residents, and water taxi operators on Tuesday.
Phase One of the New Parika Modern Port Facility and Waterfront Development includes reclamation and sea defence works on both the north and south sides of the current stelling, as well as construction of a main concrete stelling.
This phrase will be executed by three local contractors, namely GAICO Construction, Toolsie Persaud Limited and A&S General Contractors.
During his address to the gathering, Edghill emphasised these companies were selected through competitive public tendering and are renowned for delivering quality infrastructure within timelines.

“The contractors must be as far as is possible to engage residents from the area and in the region so that when you’re doing something as magnificent and humongous like we are building here, the community, the skills, and the labourers must get involved. So, it’s not just a project, but a community is being empowered while the project is going on. So, you can check with the contractors today, and they will be able to tell you what their needs are in terms of workforce.”
“Even while this port is under construction, the service of the Transport and Harbours Department to Leguan, Wakenaam, Supenaam, and Bartica will be uninterrupted. The steamers will continue to go every single day. So, nobody should have any confusion that you can’t get a boat because the men are not working,” the minister explained.

Uninterrupted
Meanwhile, as it relates to operations at the current port, Edghill explained that while Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) services will remain uninterrupted, vendors and businesses currently operating in the area will be relocated responsibly.
“While we are executing the programme, we must protect lives and livelihoods. So, we’re not coming in and breaking down everything and saying, ‘Y’all move from here, move from there’. Economic opportunities that have been created must not be unnecessarily interrupted. But while I’m saying that, people who are trying to apply their trade cannot use the fact that you’ve been sitting there since before my father was born and stop the project. People will have to be shifted and adjusted, and we wanted to ensure that you know the scope, and I’m sure you already know, especially the parties that will be affected, where you have to shift over to, and where we have to go,” Edghill told the gathering.
The Parika Port Modernisation Project is one of several critical transport upgrades being implemented nationwide to support Guyana’s economic expansion, regional connectivity, and tourism development.
Back in June, President Irfaan Ali disclosed that the Parika Port will have cold storage facilities and a packaging house, helping the facility to serve a vital function for the farmers of Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) and providing a launching pad to export produce directly to the Caribbean.
In addition to this, the facility will be transformed into an international port, which will play a vital role in Guyana’s food security ambitions and boost exports of agricultural products.
“How do we reduce the cost between when the produce was reaped and the time it goes to the market? That is why we’re building back the Parika stelling into an international port, so we can export directly into the Caribbean from Parika.”
“And in that facility, we’ll have international cold storage. This is how the Government supports the farmers. We’ll have packaging houses that you can go to and package your product. Everybody doesn’t need to invest in individual facilities,” the President pointed out.
For some time, plans have been afoot to construct a new Parika Ferry Stelling and Waterfront Development Project, which will effectively transform the Parika Stelling into a major regional hub for transportation and socioeconomic activities and enhance operational efficiency, prioritise safety and guarantee commuters’ comfort.
Funds were set aside in the Public Works Ministry’s $9.9 billion River Transport budget for this initiative. Additionally, monies were also earmarked to support the dredging of the Demerara River channels to ensure safe passage of larger ships, as well as the removal of wrecks and obstructions from the Demerara and Essequibo rivers.
The stelling sees much traffic. For instance, almost nine million repeat passengers were recorded transiting on river taxis between Vreed-en-Hoop and Georgetown last year… further amplifying the need for the Government of Guyana to take steps to clear the river of encumbrances such as logs in order to enhance the travel experience.