Having just read Dr Cheddi (Joey) Jagan (Jr)’s letter of March 30 in Stabroek News (‘The Parika to Bartica route is badly monitored and facilities are primitive’), I wish to endorse the complaints and observations therein. Further, I wish to note that the powers that be seem unable and/or unwilling to discharge the basic, fundamental and inescapable responsibilities of the state to protect its citizens. After years of complaining and also the reference to a ride on a minibus one evening years ago by a female magistrate, one can easily see that the situation is no better today. John Public is entitled to a quiet, safe and hassle-free ride on a minibus or speedboat in any part of the country, and at a reasonable, previously approved fare.
When you re-read Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau et al, you are convinced and are fortified in the belief that among the first responsibilities of the government is the protection of its citizens. It appears now that when you have to travel in hired transport (road or river), you must be prepared to endure discomfort. There is no exception for children, women, or senior citizens. You often have to contend with hooligans who are touting; crude and discourteous minibus conductors; reckless drivers; and careless boat operators. Imagine a speedboat running out of gasoline on the mighty Essequibo! Life-jacket or no life-jacket, the fear of death by drowning will tingle on your spine! This scenario has happened before.
Joey Jagan bemoans the “small wooden step-ladder” used by passengers at Parika to board the speedboats. I wonder if it is the same rickety step-ladder I saw more than seven years ago on my way to Bartica. I remarked then to boat operators present that they could surely collaborate and construct a more sturdy step-ladder. After all, you know and I know that they make thousands of dollars profit every trip. But it may be that their concern is just to rake in maximum takings. The same mentality is evident with minibus operators. They boast that daily the owner must get $8,000, the driver $6,000 and the conductor $5,000. Hence, it is no wonder that they maximize the number of trips per day, and argue especially on the long haul to Berbice and Linden that loud music must be played to keep the driver awake. If the driver is tired, he must not drive. The traffic policemen must do their duty, in spite of the fact that the Commissioner of Police may say that he does not have adequate numbers and that policemen cannot be everywhere. In the city of Georgetown there are points where the minibus drivers regularly breach road safety rules and traffic regulations. They take up positions in the left lane, even though they drive straight ahead the split-second when the traffic light turns to green. But no one seems able to contain and minimize these infractions. John Public realizes that the situation is now hopeless. It is easy to see that in these circumstances, the situation will get worse, just as it is worse now than five years ago.
Hence, one wonders how it is that the powers that be, egregiously jealous of their powers, are unable to curb the situation of lawlessness on the roads and on the rivers, so that John Public can reasonably expect to enjoy the right to quiet, safe and hassle-free transportation.
Yours faithfully,
Walter B Alexander
Retired Deputy Permanent
Secretary
