The Suriname government says the M.V. Canawaima is likely to resume service between Suriname and Guyana soon amid reports that the two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries have reached an agreement to allow travellers from both countries to temporarily cross the Corantijn River along the so-called backtrack route.
Transport, Communication and Tourism Minister, Raymond Landvel, told the National Assembly on Tuesday night that virtually all safety requirements demanded by the Maritime Authority Suriname (MAS) have now been met.
The MAS had imposed a sailing ban on ferry after an inspection revealed that a number of important safety features were not in order. The inspection concerned, among other things, a lifeboat, lifebuoys, life jackets, and a VHF radio for emergency communication.
There were also doubts regarding the thickness of the ship’s steel plates, which has not been to dry dock since 2021.
Landveld told legislators that measurements have since been carried out on the hull and that approximately 99 per cent of the measurements performed show that the plates have met the required minimum thickness.
‘The MAS’s requirements have virtually all been met,’ said Landveld, adding that he expects that a statement would be issued shortly allowing the boat to sail again.
The resumption would be provisional. The MV Canawaima is scheduled to go on dock for maintenance on August 31. The Guyanese ferry Sandaka, which is on dock, is to temporarily take over the service.
But government legislator, Rabin Parmessar is urging Landveld to intervene administratively. ‘We are going to hold you responsible now. And that means: you must intervene,’ he said, adding ‘we now demand that the minister intervenes.’
Another government legislator, Jerrel Pawiroredjo, said that the problem goes beyond the technical condition of the ship.
‘The management and supervision are not meeting the standards,’ he said, adding that the the matter must be tackled at the root.
Landveld acknowledged that the problems cannot be dismissed as a technical incident, noting that things have gone wrong at Canawaima for years and the organization must be managed in a more business-like manner.
On Tuesday, the Guyana government said it is aware of the concerns of members of the public regarding the suspension of the ferry service between Guyana and Suriname.
‘The government wishes to assure the public that since the beginning of this suspension, officials have been in constant and daily contact with their Surinamese counterparts to resolve the issue and have the service resume operations,’ the government said in a statement.
The current structure is split into two separate entities, with the company governed by Guyanese law acting as the asset holder and the Surinamese branch managing daily operations.
In its statement, Tuesday, the Georgetown said that as stated previously, ‘the responsibility for maintenance and drydocking of the M.V Canawaima falls under Suriname’.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation Minister, Melvin Bouva said that agreements have been reached to allow travellers to temporarily cross the Corantijn River via the so-called backtrack route.
Bouva said that this is an emergency measure and that travellers must go through the regular immigration formalities on both sides of the border.
According to Bouva, the arrangement is primarily intended to offer, among others, stranded passengers the opportunity to still cross the border in an orderly and legal manner. In doing so, it must be prevented that the temporary opening leads to persons entering or leaving Suriname or Guyana without registration.
‘The Government of Suriname always prioritises that border crossings take place in a legal and controlled manner, whereby persons on both sides of the border are registered and stamped in and out by the competent immigration services,’ he said.
Agreement has also been reached with the Guyanese authorities that passengers making use of the temporary backtrack arrangement must be able to be processed by immigration services in both Suriname and Guyana.
Bouva has spoken of a ‘temporary, practical emergency solution’ in which regular immigration control and legal border clearance remain guaranteed.