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Guyana/ China’s friendship will bring concrete benefits - Chinese Ambassador at handing over of certificates for roll-on/roll-off ferry vessels

Georgetown, GINA, January 13, 2012
Source - GINA

General Manager, Transport and Harbours Department, Ministry of Public Works, Marclene Merchant hands over a signed copy of certificate of delivery to Xian Ming Ding, owner of the Chinese Shipping Company which constructed the Sabanto and Kanawan vessels

The roll-on roll-off ferries that arrived in Guyana recently were officially transferred to the Guyana Government today by Chinese Ambassador Yu Wenzhe in the presence of representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The certificates of delivery and transferral for the Sabanto and Kanawan vessels which arrived in the country less than a month ago were presented to Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn in his office, Wight’s Lane, Kingston.

The Ambassador said that he was happy to hand over the vessels on behalf of the Government and the people of China, to the Government and people of Guyana.

“These two vessels which will be used across the Essequibo River, will greatly facilitate the movement of people and commodities…this in turn will greatly facility an improved livelihood of the people and the production of agriculture and other goods on both sides of the river,” Ambassador Yu Wenzhe said.

The Ambassador also said that 2012 marks 40 years of cooperation and friendship between the two countries.

“We hope to take this opportunity this year to have a series of activities to celebrate the 40th anniversary and deepen the friendship and close cooperation…this friendship and cooperation has and will bring many tangible results and concrete benefits to the people of the two countries…the two ferries are yet another example which result of these co-operations which will benefit the ordinary people, workers, farmers and the people on both sides, China and Guyana,” the Chinese Ambassador said.

Chinese Ambassador Yu Wenzhe hands over signed copies of the certificate of transferral of the Sabanto and Kanawan vessels, from China to Guyana, to Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn.

Minister Benn said that work on this project could not have been advanced without the efforts of the Transport and Harbour Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Maritime Administration Department, which coordinated with the representatives of the People’s Republic of China to work out the various issues.

“Thank you for the cooperation… we will operate the vessels to exhibit that cooperation and friendship shared with the Chinese Government,” Minister Benn said.

The boats which are similar to the Makouria class vessels and of the Canawaima size have been described as a New Year’s gift by the local Chinese Embassy.

With the certificates for the vessels now being handed over to the Ministry, phase one of the Ministry’s plan to ‘retire’ the Makouria class vessels, which have been in operation for more than 70 years would have gained momentum, as it cleared the way for its staff to be trained in the operations of the vessel, thereby making them ready to set sail by mid February, 2012.

The Two new roll-on/roll-off ferry vessels

The vessels are intended to provide services at the crossing between Parika, Region Three and Adventure, Region Two and as such the construction of roll-on/roll-off stellings at Parika and Supenaam to accommodate the vessels has already commenced by contractor BK International who is modifying the stellings at the following costs; $240.1M for Parika and $138M for Supenaam.

The modern vessels with arrangements such as a VIP Lounge, and the necessary amenities to make passengers onboard the vessels more comfortable each has the capacity to seat 800 passengers with 20 lorries or 44 cars.

The Governments of Guyana and China entered into an agreement to provide Guyana with two roll-on/roll-off ferries valued US$14.4M, which would allow for easier and faster loading and off-loading since they connect directly to the stellings built to accommodate them.

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quote:
Originally posted by Wally:
China did a good thing here. It would have cost the Guyana government $60 million US if they had bought these boats from Italy, Greece, Spain or Portugal.


China is still after our bauxite so they have to sweaten the pot some more.
FM

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