Dear Editor,
Transport and Harbors Department is paid annually nearly $30,000,000 by the speedboat owners whose boats provide the daily commuter service between Vreed-en-Hoop and Stabroek Market.
In spite of this large sum, the docking facilities provided are abysmally poor, especially at Stabroek. The docking steps are too narrow and are slippery when wet. At low tide boats are unable to dock at the arrival steps because of grounding, hence all boats must use the departure steps which are also too narrow and are crowded and dangerous for commuters during rush hour. It is not unusual for passengers to fall, the parcels they are carrying to drop overboard, and occasionally for the odd commuter to end up in the river.
The toilet facilities provided for commuters at a cost of $40 use have been out of order since February 9 and the security light directly above the dock which had not been lit since August last year was only attended to on Feb 15, no doubt because the author of this letter brought this to the attention of the Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure on Feb 12. Good work Ms Ferguson; keep T&HD’s toes to the fire.
For at least the past four years the Stabroek dock has been visited by senior officials from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure/Ministry of Works, including ex-Minister Benn, and lavish but hollow promises have been made to build an improved facility.
Let us see if the present administration will address this problem by including monies to build a new dock in next year’s budget. In the meanwhile, skid-proof material can be placed on the steps and the area around the arrival stairs dredged to a depth of two feet.
Yours faithfully,
Edward Gonsalves
