New ferry to North West back on agenda
Department of Public Information, Guyana (DPI) · Department of Public Information
Read the original at Department of Public Information, Guyana (DPI) ↗Retrieval note — do not quote as verbatim
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What this source establishes
A government press release stating in 2020 that the North-West route relied on the MV Barima, Lady Northcote and MV Kimbia, which 'experienced frequent mechanical failures and extended transit times'. It records that an India-financed North-West replacement ferry, for which former President Donald Ramotar secured a loan before 2015, had never been delivered, and quotes Minister Edghill saying the new government engaged India within its first 10 days in office. Construction and shipment were estimated at approximately 18 months. The release documents the Barima's replacement as an unfulfilled commitment spanning at least three administrations.
Key claims
- The North-West route relied on the MV Barima, Lady Northcote and MV Kimbia, which 'experienced frequent mechanical failures and extended transit times'
- Former President Donald Ramotar secured an Indian loan before 2015 for a North-West ferry that was never delivered
- Minister Edghill said the new government engaged India within its first 10 days in office
- Construction and shipment estimated at approximately 18 months
- Establishes the Barima's replacement as an unfulfilled commitment spanning at least three administrations
Quotations
- “In the first 10 days of being in office, President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Vice President Dr. Jagdeo along with myself and our team engaged the Indian Government and we have been able to resolve most of those issues.”
Prior warnings recorded
- This is an OFFICIAL government admission, dated 8 September 2020 — five years and ten months before the disaster — that the vessels serving the North-West route (naming the MV Barima explicitly) 'experienced frequent mechanical failures and extended transit times.' It also documents that an India-financed replacement ferry had been loan-funded before 2015 and never delivered. Attributed to Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill, the same minister who in July 2026 stated the MV Barima was seaworthy.
Vessel facts recorded
- fact: The North-West route previously relied on the MV Barima, Lady Northcote, and MV Kimbia, which experienced frequent mechanical failures and extended transit times
- source: https://dpi.gov.gy/new-ferry-to-north-west-back-on-agenda/
- fact: Former President Donald Ramotar secured a loan from India prior to 2015 for a North-West District ferry that was never delivered
- source: https://dpi.gov.gy/new-ferry-to-north-west-back-on-agenda/
- fact: Construction and shipment of the new ferry expected to require approximately 18 months
- source: https://dpi.gov.gy/new-ferry-to-north-west-back-on-agenda/
| Outlet | Department of Public Information, Guyana (DPI) |
|---|---|
| Author | Department of Public Information |
| Published | 8 September 2020 |
| Type | Historical & context |
| Genre | government press release |
| Archive reference | 2020-09-08_dpi_new-ferry-to-north-west-back-on-agenda.md |
This page is a research summary prepared for comment and review. It is not the article. Copyright in the original remains with Department of Public Information, Guyana (DPI); the full text is held only in the private research corpus from which this archive was compiled. Follow the link above to read it at the source.