Upgrading of Kingston Goods wharf, Region One stellings for completion in third quarter - Edghilll
Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill last Friday announced that major upgrades to the Kingston Goods Wharf and Port Kaituma, Kumaka and Morawhanna stellings are slated for completion during the third quarter of 2024.
He made this disclosure during a yearend press briefing held at the Ministry’s office in Wight’s Lane, Kingston, Georgetown.
“We have four major multimillion projects ongoing in terms of the development of our stellings. The Kingston Goods Wharf is 35% completed, the Port Kaituma stelling is 77% completed, the Kumaka stelling is 18% completed and the Morawhanna stelling is 34% completed. All of these stellings should be completed no later than the third quarter of 2024,” Edghill said.
Concerning the controversial Leguan Stelling, the Public Works Minister in response to Stabroek News’ question on the status of the project said that “civil works on the stelling is substantially completed”.
He continued “The Contractor continues to behave in a certain manner and as a result of that there is a certain position that we took which is he has to complete works on the linkspan bridge and he has all the components for the linkspan bridge to set up, this is where all the boats and ferries have to traverse”.
“That link span bridge should be completed by the contractor very early in the new year …”, he said.
The Public Works Minister is adamant that the long-overdue project must be completed promptly so that residents and commuters in that region can be able to breathe a sigh of relief as it has been over
Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill last Friday announced that the M.V. Canawaima Ferry Service executed some 538 round trips from January to November 2023 between Guyana and Suriname.
He made this announcement at a year-end press conference at the ministry’s office in Wight’s Lane, Kingston, Georgetown on Friday.
“This is more than just once daily and they have moved 14,466 vehicles across the Corentyne River,” the Minister revealed.
The service facilitates transportation for travellers and essential cargo across the Corentyne River.
Some 88,005 passengers utilized the vessel throughout
the year.
Monetarily, the Canawaima Ferry Service has proven to be efficient and profitable. Expenditures stood at $140,159,764, resulting in a substantial profit of $46,214,782.
Moreover, the introduction of a new duty-free shop in August has further elevated the services offered, enhancing the overall experience for travellers.
Edghill said that this year the government is working towards the procurement of a new engine for the ferry, to ensure enhanced reliability and efficiency.
Renovation works are also slated for the loading ramp, with repairs and the replacement of wooden rails with galvanized iron to enhance safety and durability.
He added that a new washroom is set to be constructed to accommodate incoming passengers.
The Ferry Service a few years ago had encountered mechanical failure of the second engine onboard.
In March of 2022, the management of the service had also announced that the ferry would be down for one day to facilitate emergency repairs.
It was only in February, 2021, that ferry travel between Guyana and Suriname resumed after an almost year-long hiatus due to the then COVID-19 travel restrictions. 4 years since the stelling has been under construction.
The Ministry of Public Works on several occasions criticized contractor S Maraj over his failure to complete the troubled Leguan Stelling project and it declared that it won’t be bullied into paying more for a contract that has seen many variations.
The ministry in a release last year noted that Maraj of S Maraj Contracting Services alleged that work on the Leguan Stelling had been stalled due to outstanding money owed to him by the Government. The ministry refuted this claim.
Additionally, Edghill disclosed that there will be additional upgrades on the $2.5 billion MV Ma Lisha which was constructed in India after a contract was signed between the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD), Guyana, and Indian company, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) back in January 2021.
The government was able to fund the acquisition of the vessel via a loan/ grant it obtained from the Indian government.
He noted that the 70metre-long giant, 14.5metre-wide vessel is twice the size of the MV Kimbia and MV Barima, which currently ply the NorthWest route.
The new vessel can transport 274 passengers, 10 cars, four trucks, and 10 (10ft) size containers of cargo at 14 knots per hour, significantly reducing travel times.