“About twelve years ago, payment was made for a new engine, but a second-hand one was installed in Canawaima,” Minister Raymond Landveld of Transport, Communication and Tourism said Monday in parliament about the Canawaima ferry.
The minister said that because a second-hand engine was installed in the ferry, it broke down sooner than expected. “This is what we were confronted with when we took over.” He further stated that a new engine or even a new vessel must be deployed on this route. Discussions are being held with interested parties who want to deploy a new vessel, and the talks are still ongoing, but no firm agreements have yet been made.
Landveld could not yet say much about the suspension of the terminal manager and an adviser to the state-owned company. Both officials were suspended in May and this measure applied until August 31, but both remain suspended. An accountant had been engaged to conduct an investigation. That accountant’s report should have been submitted a week ago, and decisions were to be made on the basis of it.
The report has already been received, but is still under review. A meeting has already been held with management and the supervisory board chairpersons. If it becomes clear that there was mismanagement and this can be demonstrated, measures will be taken. If that is not the case, the individuals will be reinstated. The minister could not comment further on this.
Recently, the Maritieme Autoriteit Suriname (MAS) imposed a sailing ban on the Canawaima ferry because of serious shortcomings, but the ban has since been lifted. According to the minister, work was carried out intensively to make the ferry operational again, and the vessel has been back in service since last Friday. Management did everything possible to meet the requirements set by MAS. “We were in continuous contact with MAS, and when the vessel met the requirements, this was immediately communicated to MAS.”
