After 13 years: MV Malali ferry service reintroduced to Fort Island

After a 13-year hiatus, residents of Fort Island, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) are now benefiting from the reintroduction of the ferry service on August 27.
The MV Malali is servicing the island.
The reintroduction of the ferry service was made possible following the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration’s $82 million investment that saw the construction of a new stelling on the island.
The return of the ferry service is also the fulfilment of a commitment made by Government upon completion of the stelling back in May.
Fort Island is home to about 95 persons and more than 200 persons from the catchment areas. Agriculture is one of the main economic activities of the island.
With the ferry now back in service, persons will not only be able to get their produce to market, but also sell to persons who stop with the ferry at the island.
The island, which is also a major tourist destination, is home to Fort Zeelandia, which was built in 1744. It is also home to the Court of Policy, a Dutch Heritage Museum which is the only one of its kind in Guyana.
Fort Island is one of the stops on many of the circuit tours in the Essequibo River. Government has already signalled its commitment to further developing the tourism circuit in the Essequibo.
Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) General Manager Marcelene Merchant disclosed that “every Saturday while on its way to Bartica, the ferry will make stops to Fort Island Stelling, whether it is to drop off or to pick up passengers or their cargo and also on the return from Bartica on Sunday the ferry will also stop at Fort Island”.
Merchant noted that systems were in place should the need arise for the ferry to stop at the island during the week.
“If there are any special request during the week, because the ferry don’t usually stop during the week, but if there are any special to stop and do any pick-up or drop-off, well, then we will be more than happy to facilitate that,” she stated.
As it relates to cost, adults will pay $100 from Parika to Fort Island and children $60; the journey from Bartica to Fort Island will cost adults $420 and children, $220.