New North West ferry a ‘game changer’ for travel and agri production – Edghill

Guyana received the new North West ferry – the MV Ma Lisha – and Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill says this vessel will be a game changer capable of transporting more people and goods at a faster rate.

“The people of Region One would now be able to get home faster. This boat is a faster boat, we will be reducing travel time sometimes between six to eight hours,” Edghill said on Friday at a luncheon held at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown to commemorate the arrival and commissioning of the vessel.

He added that the vessel has the capacity to carry nearly 300 passengers, 10 containers and several vehicles.

Because of this, the Public Works Minister believes that a greater volume of produce can be transported out of Region One, encouraging farmers to expand production in the Barima- Waini region.

He also said that the boat’s large capacity means more goods can be taken into the region, thereby reducing the cost of goods sold there.

This 70-metre-long vessel, with a speed of 15 knots, also boasts a cold storage area that is available for the storage of goods. Edghill said it can reduce the amount of goods that may be spoilt during transport into or out of the North West District.

With these benefits, he posited, “MV Ma Lisha is a game changer in water transportation in Guyana.”

The ferry was built in India by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited through a US$12.77 million Grant/Line of Credit line from the government of India and it is part of the modern sea-going vessels Guyana now owns.

And Edghill highlighted that Guyana’s ports will undergo much-needed expansion to accommodate these new vessels.

He reminded the gathering that the Kingston, Georgetown and Port Kaituma, Region One ports are already undergoing expansion. But with plans to use the MV Ma Lisha and other ferries in Region One, a brand new stelling will be constructed in Mabaruma.

The new stelling is expected to replace the smaller, existing stelling at Mabaruma. Contracts for this new stelling will be awarded soon.