Railway not economically viable

—Kranenburg

THE State in 1982 had a study done to reintroduce a railway service here but found that the service would be too costly, Communications and Works Minister Jules Kranenburg says.

The minister was arguing for the rejection of a motion by Working People’s Alliance (WPA) parliamentarian Eusi Kwayana that ‘an immediate study be started of Guyana’s remaining railway resources and of resources available in neighbouring and friendly countries.’

Kranenburg said the study was carried out by the Indian firm Rail India Technical and Economic Services Ltd. It showed that for all routes, the fares would be four times the mini-bus and car fares of 1982.

He explained that a railway service would have to be highly subsidised and this was something the State cannot afford. Government was encouraging an increase in private-owned buses, he said.

In arguing his motion, Mr. Kwayana said the country needs a means of mass transit in the light of the heavy bottlenecks in the transportation of goods and persons. Though capital expenditure for such a project would be heavy to begin with, the service would bring major savings of foreign exchange now spent on spares and fuel.

NEW ROUTES He said that the motion asks for new routes to be added to the old ones to include the interior, where persons might want to settle.

Kwayana said inadequate transportation is impeding commerce, production and studies.

Kranenburg disclosed to the House that for this year 932 minibuses are operating on the roads and Kwayana noted that in 1988, 1,315 mini-buses were in operation, according to the Inland Revenue annual report for that year.

He said this showed a high rate of collapse for mini-buses which would not be the case with a railway.

He said that he did not think the motion had received the ‘detached’ consideration it deserved.

Harry Nokta of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) supported the motion. He said a railway service would be useful to transport large quantities of rice from the coast.