Fed up with the destruction being caused to their community by big ships passing along the Demerara River, Dalliwala, Christianburg and Speightland residents have, at great risk to themselves, begun to enforce speed and proximity limits for the vessels.
Residents of Dalliwala Creek told this newspaper that ships heading to or leaving the Bosai bauxite plant farther up the river have been causing damage to the river banks, their boats and their landings (wharves) by travelling too close and too fast.
Efforts to contact Bosai’s Senior Personnel Officer, Vance Reid and Transport and Harbours General Manager, Marcellene Merchant proved futile.
“…We keep complaining to Bosai people and nothing is changing nor are we getting any compensation,” one resident said.
They took a decision to use their own method to keep the ships from getting too close or travelling at what they consider to be dangerous speeds and this newspaper was at Dalliwala on Tuesday to witness it.
As soon as the horn of an approaching ship was heard in the community, Dalliwala residents, who were at a meeting with Region Ten Chairman Kuice Sharma Solomon, rushed out and got into their boats.
They then headed out towards the approaching ship and formed a U around it, forcing it to reduce speed and to keep at a safe distance from the riverfront community.
As the ship left Dalliwala and approached Section ‘C’ Christianburg and Speightland, residents there were observed doing the same thing.
“You know how much damage these ships does cost us? And at the same time they destroying the river bank, our landing and our boats. Sometimes we got to be afraid to even send them children to school with the boats and instead it getting better is worse,” a resident complained. The residents said that less than a month ago a ship ventured so close to the river bank that a family boat was hit and destroyed.
They explained that in the absence of a proper road or foot path they are left with no choice but to send their children to school by boat.
This gave rise to them advocating for the construction of a road from Section ‘C’ Christianburg to Dalliwala. “If we let them walk they would be all over mud by the time they get to school and the track is very dangerous,” a mother said.
Solomon promised to raise the issue with Bosai noting that he had witnessed the risks taken by residents to protect their community.
Earlier, the residents had raised other issues such as flooding, clogged creeks and canals and the need for electricity during the meeting with Solomon.
