Cramped quarters, overflowing toilets, stale hot air, crying children, no food and water and a broken engine transformed what was supposed to be a part of a family vacation into a horror trip.
“It was awful”, said Yolanda Carter. The woman had taken family members to the North-West for a vacation. She had returned to the area after 11 years and will not be going back anytime soon. “I don’t know why they are doing the North-West people this”, the clearly upset woman declared. She was referring to her trip aboard the M.V. Kimbia last week. On Thursday the vessel, which transports passengers and cargo between the North-West District and Georgetown on a fortnightly basis, began what was supposed to be a routine trip to Georgetown.
There were about 360 persons on board. Leaving Morawhanna at about 8:15 am that day, the vessel churned its way to Port Georgetown. But hours into the journey, at about 5:30 pm, one of the boat’s engines broke down. Reports state that a nut on one of the shafts had broken. Authorities in the city were contacted and the boat limped along on the second engine. Crewmembers on the vessel made no move to inform passengers of the situation and it was only upon queries that they learnt what had happened, Carter said. The journey would have normally taken just about 24 hours with the vessel expected to arrive at Port Georgetown early Friday morning. Carter, her three children, her sister and her three children were among those on the cramped ferry.
Following the engine breakdown, the Kimbia limped slowly along in sight of the coast. “We were actually drifting into the ocean, how we were moving was very slow; we were drifting with the tide”, Carter recalled. But the ordeal had just begun. Carter said that facilities on the boat are marginal and there is no proper accommodation for passengers. She stated that there is no place to sleep apart from the benches. Some persons, however, take along their hammocks and tie these while others have to sleep on the floor. The passenger area is close to the engine room and it is hot there and no fan is provided, the woman recounted. She asserted that there is no water to flush the toilets and these overflow, creating an unhealthy situation.
Friday morning saw most passengers running out of the food they had brought with them. Drinking water ran out too. As the day wore on many resorted to eating the pears and cassava bread that they had. “The majority of the people start giving up because they had no food. The canteen hadn’t any food, no soda, no water…” With passengers frustrated and children crying, some water was eventually pumped into drums but Carter did not allow her children to drink it because she said it was dirty. Later that day, some passengers began selling their pears and cassava to those who did not have anything to eat for $200 and $100 respectively, Carter said. The waiting took its toll. “There was nothing more that you could do, just sit and see the (children) crying…they didn’t want the cassava anymore”, she said noting that they had catered for travelling up to Friday morning and not beyond.
At 3:40 am on Saturday, after a distressing night the Kimbia pulled into port. “Everyone was so sick and tired of the travelling”, Carter stated. But the ordeal was not yet over. The upset woman said that the gate to the Transport and Harbours Department wharf was closed and relatives on the outside were not allowed in to assist their family members. However, some forced their way inside. Eventually food was provided and two buses were made available to take passengers to their destinations in the city.
Carter said that those in authority should have at least made an effort to send another boat to assist even if it was just to bring food and water. “Nobody come to the rescue”, the woman pointed out adding that she had been told that had they lost sight of the coast and drifted into more open waters, they would have been in “big trouble”. She noted that at some points, the water had been calm but at other areas, it was rough.
Carter was particularly upset at the way passengers are treated. “The condition on this vessel is very bad”, she declared adding that it is very unhealthy. She is calling on the authorities to look into the conditions onboard the vessel as it relates to passengers. The situation has been the same for several years, she noted. This newspaper was informed that this is not the first time the engine had encountered such a problem and it had recently come out of the dock after suffering the same defect.
The age of the Kimbia and other vessels has been cited as one of the major reasons for frequent problems. This newspaper was unable to contact Minister of Transport, Robeson Benn for a comment yesterday.
Earlier this year, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) had expressed concern over the safety of passengers who utilize the Kimbia and the MV Malali. The party had described both vessels as “handicapped”. In relation to the Kimbia, the PNCR had said the vessel was operating with only one rudder, when it is required by specification of the builder, to operate with two rudders. The Party had said that under the Guyana Shipping Act 1998, Part X, entitled, Safety of Life at Sea, the subject minister is responsible for the monitoring of the vessels to ensure that they are safe.
The party had called on the Minister of Transport to take the necessary steps to ensure that the vessels in question are operated in accordance with passenger safety and other legal requirements.
Carter, meantime, yesterday said that she does not have any plans for another trip on the boat because it is “too much punishment”.
Several years ago I visited then Minister of Transport Mr Nokta to offer a fairly new ferry at a very affordable cost. The said ferry boat was in Canada and catered for 400 passengers with all modern conveniences. The reception was mediocre and I was told that the authorities has no place to park the boat.
Your story is not an isolated one there are many and when I say many, I mean literally double digit figures of very affluent people I have met who have offered this government ideas and assistance on tangible projects and opportunities to move this country forward and they have turned them away with little or no interest from the government.
It is amazing when you look at india and how they leverage their NRI community and how Israel embraces their citizens outside of their country and around the world. But in Guyana the communists have their own grand plan which we are still waiting on to see 17 years later.
The ferry that you were selling them was so modern that they thought it was a limousine that is why they said “no place to park”instead of “no place to moor”.
things happen, nothing in life is smooth, so you have to accept the bad and good.
STOP COMPLAINING, it happens once in a while, however never heard of this problem before. there is always a first and measure must be taken to correct it in the future.
the US Govt has plenty vessels in ‘mothball’ that can be obtained…..the Lannaballi…a former submarine tender tug…was converted into a survey vessel….it did one rescue of a disabled oceangoing tug off the coast….and the payment received covered all costs assocciated with obtaining the vessel…..i understand…..lack of maintenance caused the Govt to get rid of the Lannaballi…..
it is so funny how the always make allegations and never follow through to see it is accomplished. a lot of hue and cry and not backbone. a crying shame to see how things and equipment are deteriorating with no contingency act in place.
A tragedy is waiting to happen and the government will be responsible for operating a vessel that was not seaworthy. These vessels are old and should be retired from service.
As well as you……
Bora. They could have harnessed a few water buffalos or a few alligators and let them pull the boat safely to port GT.
Aye Soldier i got a proposal for your government give me a free loan like de hotel one given to buddys and I gun repay the govt wid free rides and 2 sno cone pun de ferry?
You wid me or what?
this is a problem with most boats, it happen all the time, were you asleep.
get on with it or get you a private speed boat.
You’re so callous Freespeech…”get on with it or get a private speedboat”? Because these things “happen all the time” makes them right or acceptable? People are suppose to just sit back and say “oh well!”? I’m tired of reading the foolish comments by people which clearly lack thought and a sense of human decency.
What has the PPP done for the people in 17 years I ask.
What WHAT WHAAAAAAAAAATTTT???
dont let those people get to you maraudfai,just excuse them
where’s the rest of my comments sn.
where was the great army and the million dollar coast guard.were they on leave.
Looks like de coast guard canoe was on dry docks?
this is ”GUYANA”,only in ”GUYANA”.thankful folks made it out alive.
I don’t know where to start, and where to end. It is crazy to try to understand why the government spending money on roads for one thing, and ignoring the river transport. Why can’t they just buy some engines if the body of the boat is good? I find the service worth the while when one looks at the number of travelers. Come-on minister, put some money where your moth is!
It would seem that the country is falling apart at the seam.These vessels should be replaced.Maybe the Government will wait until disaster strikes before they act. When will they ever learn?
Clearly the Minstry of Transport is not doing their job. They should have a sign that says ” Travel at your own risk” or “visit Guyana at your own risk”
Becuase, that is exactly what it is, every man/woman has to protect themselves.
You people need to stop asking stupid questions. Carifesta and cricket world cup are more important and deserve hundreds of millions of dollars.
And the government wonders why tourists flock to other countries and not Guyana. Haha!