GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Aug 28, CMC – The Guyana government Friday said that it welcomed the decision to lift the ban on the M.V. Canawaima and that the ferry service with Suriname will resume immediately.
“The service between Guyana and Suriname will continue according to its regular schedule. The top priority today will be transporting stranded passengers,” the government said in a statement.
It said that the ban had been lifted following successful technical inspections and adherence of specific requirements of the Maritime Authority of Suriname (MAS).
The current structure is split into two separate entities, with the company governed by Guyanese law acting as the asset holder and the Surinamese branch managing daily operations.
Earlier this week, the Suriname government had indicated that the M.V. Canawaima would likely resume service between the two Caribbean Community (CARICCOM) countries amid reports that Georgetown and Paramaribo had reached an agreement to allow travellers from both countries to temporarily cross the Corantijn River along the so-called backtrack route.
Transport, Communication and Tourism Minister, Raymond Landvel, told the National Assembly on Tuesday night that virtually all safety requirements demanded by MAS have now been met.
The MAS had imposed a sailing ban on ferry after an inspection revealed that a number of important safety features were not in order. The inspection concerned, among other things, a lifeboat, lifebuoys, life jackets, and a VHF radio for emergency communication.
There were also doubts regarding the thickness of the ship’s steel plates, which has not been to dry dock since 2021.
Landveld told legislators that measurements have since been carried out on the hull and that approximately 99 per cent of the measurements performed show that the plates have met the required minimum thickness.
In its statement on Friday, the Guyana government said “recognizing the importance of this link between the two countries, the Government’s representatives worked tirelessly over the past several days with its Surinamese counterparts to ensure all safety and structural compliance were met so the ferry can return to service at the soonest possible time.
“We were aware of the considerable inconvenience this temporary suspension had on the public in both countries and as such, ensured that everything that had to be done was done.”
But it said that the safety and wellbeing of the public “was never lost at any time during this period,” adding “we thank all the relevant authorities and other stakeholders for their cooperation and support while this situation was being resolved.
“Most importantly, we thank the public for their patience during this time. As much as it was a terrible inconvenience, which we truly regret, their ultimate safety was top priority.
“During this period, Guyana and Suriname will continue discussions for the subsequent drydocking of the M.V. Canawaima and a replacement vessel to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted flow of the ferry service,” the statement added.
CMC/gt/ir/2026