Budget: $1.2B earmarked for stellings rehab in Region One

Major rehabilitation works have been projected for three stellings in Region One, Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh told the National Assembly during his presentation of the 2021 budget on Friday.

Singh noted that provision has been made in the budget for rehabilitation works to be executed on the Morawhanna, Kumaka, and Port Kaituma stellings. He added that government will allocate $1.2 billion to facilitate the implementation of the project.

“Under the previous administration, residents and commuters travelling to and from the North West District were deprived the benefit of a modern ferry service,” Singh contended.

He informed that in 2020, the current government had expended some $358 million in the river transport sector to rehabilitate the Bartica, Supenaam, Parika and Kumaka stellings. In addition, during the year, government also allocated the amount of $310 million to facilitate the upgrading and rehabilitation of stellings including the ones at Wakenaam and Fort Island.

Further, Singh indicated that some $500 million has been allocated to rehabilitate the MV Malali, MV Makouria, and MV Kimbia during this year.

Only a few weeks ago, the Ministry of Public Works conducted emergency works on the MV Kimbia after it was docked.

The vessel was scheduled to go into dry dock for repairs since 2018 as the entire bottom of the vessel was rotten, rendering it inoperable.

The MV Kimbia was dry-docked on January 15 to undergo emergency works as a result of deterioration of the forepeak bulkhead plating. As emergency works continued, it was discovered that the deterioration was more severe and had extended to other areas, thus requiring more repairs. The vessel was last dry-docked in 2015 and was scheduled for a similar exercise in 2018 but this never materialised.

The suspension of service came approximately 18 months after the vessel was re-commissioned by the APNU+AFC government to the tune of $488 million.

Rehabilitation works were executed by Courtney Benn Construction and the vessel was upgraded to provide better service to residents of Regions One and Two.

The vessel is used to provide transportation services to the North West communities.

During his presentation, Singh also noted that the government last month, via the Transport & Harbours Department, signed a US$12.7 million contract with an Indian company to commence the construction of an ocean-going passenger and cargo ferry for the North West District and other parts of the country.

The contract was awarded to India’s shipbuilding company, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRESL) at a sum of US$12,733,403.

The vessel is expected to be delivered in the next eighteen months and will provide larger capacity for cargo, shorter travel times, and safer and more comfortable services to commuters.