Companies ID’d to build India-funded US$18M North-West ferry
Following much anticipation by residents of Region One (Barima-Waini) for more accessible water-based transport, Government on Monday announced that a company has been identified to construct a ferry to ply the Georgetown-North West route. For the past several months, Government has been engaging in lengthy discussions with two India-based companies to finalise details for constructing of an ocean-going vessel that residents would utilise.
Lady North Cote which currently plies the Georgetown-North West route
The two companies were announced as Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) and SHOFT Shipyard Pvt Ltd. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon updated members of the media, revealing that the vessel’s construction was closer to reality as the company has already been identified.
“It takes a little bit of time from actual conceptualisation of a project to funding for it, so it would have gone through several phases and now a company has been identified to construct the ferry,” Harmon noted.
The new vessel is seen as a vital addition since MV Barima and Lady North Cote which ply the route are aged and in dire need of refurbishment. These vessels date back to Guyana’s colonial pre-1966 era. The Indian Government has committed US$18 million for the ferry. Of this amount, US$8 million will be a grant, while the remaining $10 million will be a line of credit to be repaid within 20 years, with a five-year grace period.
Over the years, residents have been complaining about the negative impact of the ferry service on their lives and livelihoods. Another one of Guyana’s ferries, the MV Kimbia, was docked for repairs last year. Back in January 2015, former President Donald Ramotar had secured the funding while attending the 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Gujrat, India. He had a meeting on the sidelines with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which the commitment was made. Modi will soon visit Guyana.
Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingam told reporters in March that Government was working to finalise the specifications of the ferry.
“They have to finalise the specifications of the ferry, and then one of the companies will be given the bid to manufacture the ocean-going vessel,” the Indian diplomat explained.
It was in January 2012 that two Chinese-made vessels were handed over to Guyana to ply various routes in Essequibo.
