Vreed-en-Hoop

Students and other passengers disembarking a speedboat

Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara was bustling as with dark clouds hanging overhead, everyone was hurrying to get about their business done before the rains came.

Many people were heading towards the stelling to board the boats which have sheds and are equipped with lifejackets that each passenger is required to wear.

For a fee of $100, they get across to Georgetown in about five minutes, much faster than if they had used the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB). During the morning rush hour there are long lines of vehicles trying to get to and from the stelling road and to the West Bank Demerara road that leads to the