Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) General Manager Marclene Merchant has announced rehabilitation works to bring relief to speed boat operators, who have been lobbying for better docking arrangements at the decaying Parika Stelling.
At a press conference held by the Ministry of Public Works on Friday, Merchant stated that approximately $500 million has been made available to assist with expenses such as rehabilitation works to several stellings, including at Georgetown, Vreed-en-Hoop, Parika, and Berbice. She said that these works are aimed at improving the overall structures, which would increase safety on the wharfs.
In addition to rehabilitative works, Merchant said that the T&HD plans to provide several floating ramps, which she believes will greatly improve conditions for speed boat operators plying routes between Parika, Supenaam, Bartica and several other destinations.
Currently, the operators say that that speed boats going to Bartica, Supenaam, and several other destinations on the Essequibo River all dock at a single location to pick up passengers. The floating ramps, it is hoped, will provide a larger area for the boats to function, decreasing the amount of “confusion” that occurs daily.
Members of the Parika Speed Boat Owners Association (PSBOA) recently sounded their concerns over the situation at Parika, saying the current arrangements at the stelling are inadequate for the daily traffic and leave them vulnerable to damage from waves and passing vessels.
“This place is way too congested, that’s the present situation at this wharf,” operator Clarence Belle had said, while noting that many passengers have often found themselves on boats headed to the wrong destination.
Complaints were also made about the dilapidated condition of the wharf, which they said poses dangers for themselves, passengers, and anyone else who traverses the facility on any given day.
The men also made mention of the lack of proper mooring facilities and the damage caused to boats by strong waves. Belle had stated that their base of operations is on the northern side of the wharf, which incidentally faces the mouth of the Essequibo River.
Strong waves generated by rising tides, he added, causes the boats to rock uncontrollably and sends them colliding with each other or into the wharf. He said that several persons have fallen into the river while trying to board the boats while the waves were coming in.
The situation was especially problematic for senior citizens attempting to board the boats, the operators noted.
As a result of the seriousness of the situation, Belle stated that formal representation was made by his group to Transport Minister Robeson Benn, who he claimed stated that breakers would be installed to help deal with the waves.
But Benn on Friday stated that he could not recall ever making such a promise. Benn added that while the structural difficulties may have been posing some challenges to speed boat operators, the practices of the operators were also somewhat to blame for their plight.
He said that there are far more speed boats than are needed to ply the various riverain routes, and in their competition for passengers, they cause some of the confusion they are complaining about.
