Rohee calls for sweeping overhaul of river transport

Aug 01, 2026 News

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…calls for subsidised state-run air service to hinterland

(Kaieteur News) – Former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary, Clement J. Rohee, is calling for a comprehensive overhaul of Guyana’s riverain and ocean-going transportation system in the wake of the MV Barima disaster, warning that the country’s transport infrastructure is lagging dangerously behind its rapid economic growth.

In a letter to the Editor, Rohee, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and former Minister of Home Affairs, outlined 15 recommendations which he believes should guide reforms as the country awaits the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the state-owned ferry that claimed scores of lives.

Rohee, who currently serves as a PPP/C-nominated Commissioner on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), said his proposals were made “without prejudice” to the Commission’s findings.

Among his foremost recommendations is regulatory reform at the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD), including a review of its mission, mandate and operations relating to riverain and ocean-going services.

He argued that Guyana’s economic expansion is rapidly outpacing the modernization of its maritime transport sector and warned that the gap will continue to widen unless urgent action is taken.

“The economic growth of the country is rapidly outdistancing the modernization of the riverain and ocean-going transport sector,” Rohee wrote.

He also called for extensive digitization of the transport system, including online ticket purchases and payments, digital passenger registration systems, logistics platforms and improved information management.

Among the more significant proposals is the establishment of off-site monitoring and control centres operating around the clock to monitor passenger and cargo vessels operated by the T&HD.

Rohee further urged authorities to aggressively root out corruption within the public river transport sector, saying “systematic and endemic” corrupt practices must be eliminated through more innovative and practical measures.

He also proposed simplifying and standardising the process for awarding contracts for maritime infrastructure projects, including stellings and wharves, while making transparency a central feature of the procurement process.

The former Cabinet minister stressed that existing transport infrastructure must also be upgraded to accommodate modern ferries that are expected to be introduced into the fleet.

Calling for long-term planning, Rohee said the design and implementation of a modern riverain and ocean-going transport architecture should be guided by scientific planning, geo-strategic considerations, population needs and realistic timelines.

Beyond maritime transport, he also advocated for the State to re-enter the domestic aviation sector by providing subsidised air transportation for residents of hinterland regions, including senior citizens, pensioners, students, teachers, medical personnel and single parents.

At the same time, he cautioned against allowing the private aviation industry or the mining sector to dominate state-supported aviation services.

Rohee also recommended major improvements in passenger services aboard government ferries, including better accommodation, sanitation facilities, medical services and communication systems for travellers heading to remote interior communities.

He proposed establishing a dedicated riverain and ocean-going transport inspectorate staffed by trained professionals, with at least two inspectors assigned to each government ferry on a rotating basis.

Those inspectors, he said, should verify passenger numbers, cargo loads, safety procedures and emergency preparedness before every voyage.

Additionally, Rohee called for mandatory inspections of captains’ logbooks, passenger manifests and cargo records, while recommending the installation of waterproof surveillance cameras throughout government-owned passenger and cargo vessels to allow continuous remote monitoring by trained information technology specialists.

The recommendations come as public scrutiny intensifies over the management of Guyana’s river transport system following the July 18 sinking of the MV Barima, one of the country’s worst maritime disasters.

Government has since established a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy and recommend measures aimed at preventing a recurrence.

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• air service, Clement Rohee, hinterland, PPP/C, river transport

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