Freelance Correspondent
A new fast ferry working the route from Güiria in Venezuela to Chaguaramas in this country has been launched.
The new vessel, named the Playa Patanemo, made its maiden voyage to this country last Wednesday. The price of a round trip between Chaguaramas to Güiria in eastern Venezuela is TT$3,300. A one way trip is TT$1,650. The trip to Chaguaramas lasted two and a half hours and the vessel returned to Güiria the following day.
Venezuela’s Ambassador to T&T, Álvaro Sánchez said he was confident that the fast ferry service will provide a legal and reliable route for the citizens of Venezuela and T&T.
“A new Venezuelan vessel, Playa Patanemo, has started to travel from Güiria, in the state of Sucre, eastern Venezuela, to Crews Inn, Chaguaramas, and back to Güiria, carrying both passengers and cargo. We are truly elated to witness this historic moment when the Playa Patanemo boat arrived in Chaguaramas in such a sunny and stunning day; thus, linking the people and culture of both countries through transport and trade. Venezuela will offer a safe, reliable and comfortable way to travel to Güiria with seriousness and professionalism,” said Sanchez.
He explained that the Playa Patanemo fast ferry vessel was designed and built in Venezuela and is the result of a newly created mixed enterprise between the Venezuelan private sector company Comercializadora Fapeco CA, and the Venezuelan State, represented by the National Institute of Aquatic Spaces (INEA).
The Venezuelan Ambassador added that initially, the Playa Patanemo, which has a capacity of 5,000 kilogrammes of cargo and 84 seats for passengers, will travel once a month, but soon it will make voyages every fortnight.
The ambassador said that all Venezuelan nationals need to have a valid passport or a travel document issued by the Venezuelan Embassy and T&T nationals do not need a visa to enter Venezuela, for 90 days, but a valid passport is required.
This new vessel between T&T and Venezuela also comes at a time when Venezuela’s economy is improving and many Venezuelans are returning home.
The Venezuelan Embassy provided statistics to Guardian Media which showed that in 2023, 101 Venezuelans returned home permanently under Venezuela’s government’s “Return Homeland” programme.
“Although, perhaps, the majority of passengers are Venezuelans who are returning home for good, there is a number of Venezuelan passengers who live in T&T, normally, and use these boats to visit family, to do errands, etc, and then return,” Sanchez said.
