The North-West ferry, the M.V. Kimbia was up to press time last night limping in along the coast after suffering engine failure on Thursday night, leaving many relatives of those onboard worried.
“They said they don’t have anything to eat. All their food done. Everything in the canteen sell out. The water finish”, Renate Monsammy told Stabroek News. Her mother, sisters, brother, her aunt and the aunt’s three children were onboard the vessel. Monsammy said that she managed to contact her mother between 4 pm and 4:30 pm yesterday and she related what had happened. The worried woman said that one of the boat’s engines had broken down and the vessel was operating on one engine.
Moonsammy said that her relatives had resorted to eating the pears and cassava bread that they were bringing to the city. “I don’t know what is happening there right now”, the deeply worried woman told Stabroek News last night. She stated that she is praying for the safety of her relatives.
This newspaper was told that the Kimbia left Kumaka in the North-West at around 6 am on Thursday. It was expected to arrive at Port Georgetown yesterday morning. Police sources said that the boat suffered engine failure just opposite the mouth of the Pomeroon River. It began to operate on one engine.
This newspaper was told that the Ministry of Public Works was informed of the problem and had planned to hire a vessel to tug the Kimbia but balked at the price.
Other persons, who were expecting relatives or items onboard the vessel managed to make contact with those onboard at around 4 pm yesterday. It is believed that the boat was in the vicinity of Suddie on the Essequibo Coast at the time. Passengers related that they had run out of food and water. It is not clear how many persons are onboard the vessel but it usually transports a large number of persons. Police sources said that the vessel is expected to arrive at Port Georgetown early this morning. The M.V. Kimbia transports passengers and cargo between Georgetown and the North-West District. It makes the journey on a fortnightly basis.
The age of the Kimbia and other vessels has been cited as one of the major reasons fro frequent problems.
