The Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce (SGCC) has called for investment in a new vessel and a dedicated secondary vessel to serve the Corentyne River crossing, as the suspended MV Canawaima ferry leaves passengers stranded on both sides of the border.
The Chamber said the present disruption reinforces the need for redundancy in the bilateral link and has requested clarification on when a replacement vessel will be deployed.
SGCC said it is closely monitoring the suspension and is concerned about its impact on passengers, transport operators, businesses and the movement of goods between Guyana and Suriname. At the same time, the Chamber said it respects the responsibility of maritime authorities to determine the vessel’s seaworthiness, noting that a reliable cross-border service must first be a safe one.
On that front, SGCC said it has taken note of clarification from Guyana’s Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, that recent technical inspections involving maritime experts from both countries found the vessel could remain in operation pending dry-docking within three months, while the Maritime Authority Suriname (MAS) determined certain outstanding matters should be addressed immediately.
Citing a Suriname Nieuws Centrale report, SGCC said a 21 August assessment by Marine Consulting & Survey identified significant corrosion requiring further examination and remedial works, though no leakage was found. The assessment also identified outstanding documentation and certification requirements, with further thickness measurements and repair works scheduled from Monday.
Against that backdrop, the Chamber called for greater clarity on the outstanding requirements identified by MAS and the works now considered necessary for the vessel’s safe return to operation, saying transparency would help the public and business community understand the pathway toward resumption.
Beyond the technical questions, SGCC urged authorities and operators to prioritise stranded passengers, many of whom face unplanned expenditure for accommodation, transportation and other necessities with no certainty on how long the disruption may continue.
The Chamber also called for an update on the anticipated timeframe for repairs, whether the intervention would affect the vessel’s planned dry-docking, and what interim arrangements could preserve cross-border connectivity while the ferry remains out of service.
To that end, SGCC noted it advanced a Public-Private Partnership proposal for management of the Canawaima ferry service in February 2025, aimed at supporting a more reliable and commercially sustainable model, and said it remains prepared to engage with the Governments of Suriname and Guyana on that proposal and other solutions.
SGCC said it remains confident the situation can be addressed through continued bilateral cooperation while safeguarding standards for the protection of the travelling public.
