Why did GuySuCo discontinue the launch service between Blairmont and New Amsterdam?

Dear Editor,

Ever since I can remember GuySuCo ran a launch service from Blairmount to New Amsterdam which transported sugar workers across the river. School children and the travelling public used this service. It cost very little and I used it up to 2008. I have been told it has been discontinued.

I was told that there is a pontoon service between Rogisnol and New Amsterdam which transports pedestrians. It is probably organized by Transport and Harbours. It costs $60 per crossing.

A speedboat crossing from Vreed-en-Hoop to Georgetown costs $100. The distance between Rosignol and New Amster-dam is longer than Vreed-en-Hoop to Georgetown, so one would expect this crossing to cost more than $100. The distance from Blairmont to New Amsterdam is about the same as from Georgetown to Vreed-en-Hoop.

I was told that it costs $300 to travel by road from the Berbice Bridge to New Amsterdam.

Transport and Harbours would have all the details about the pontoon service as well as GuySuCo which could say why the launch service was discontinued.

Yours faithfully,
Edward Gonsalves