Berbice River water taxi operations scaled back for bus operators

One of the water taxis in operation

The operating hours of the water taxi service plying the Berbice River have been curtailed in a bid to reduce the effect of their operations on minibus operators that ferry persons across the bridge.

On Thursday, incensed hire car drivers picketed the Transport and Harbours Department at New Amsterdam to protest a decision by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to reduce the number of hours operated by public water taxis crossing the Berbice River.

A year ago, the water taxis were deployed to transport commuters across the Berbice River from New Amsterdam to Rosignol and back.

A notice placed at the New Amsterdam ferry stelling was the only source of information the general public got on the decision to change the schedule. The notice indicated that water taxis would be available from Mondays to Fridays, from 6am to 9.30am and from 2.30pm to 5pm. It also stated that boats would no longer be available on weekends or holidays.