The two new roll-on/ roll-off ferries Guyana purchased from China are likely to dock before Christmas, according to Chinese Ambassador Yu Wenzhe, who paid a courtesy call on President Donald Ramotar on Monday at the Office of the President.
The ferries are at present anchored in neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago awaiting completion of the Parika Stelling overhaul that will make way for the accommodation of the two large oceangoing vessels, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said in a release.
Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Yu Wenzhe in talks with President Donald Ramotar at the office of the President
The contract for the design and construction of the two vessels was inked in December 2010 by Transport and Hydraulics Minister Robeson Benn and the Economic and Commercial Councillor of the Chinese Embassy in Guyana Huang Shaowen, who acted on behalf of Tongfang Jiangxin Shipbuilding Co Ltd. The pact followed a grant agreement between the governments of Guyana and China in November 2009 for the design and construction of the two vessels for use by Guyana. The cost for the construction of the ferries was 89,520,000 Yuan.
The ferries will add to the current fleet operating in the Essequibo River, improving the capacity of marine travel from Parika to Supenaam, which in the past had been a sore issue for commuters. Optimism is high that there will be more ferry trips between the islands in the Essequibo River, particularly Wakenaam and Leguan. In anticipation of the two new vessels, about 6000 acres of land are at present being developed for non-traditional crops at Aurora and Good Hope, Essequibo.
