Dear Editor,
The Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure recently boasted in the media about the Lady Northcote ferry, which transports passengers and cargo to the North West District (Barima- Waini). But while the North West steamer may have become more reliable about transporting North West (NWD) passengers and their cargo to Mabaruma and Port Kaituma, the poor residents of these two sub-regions are currently crying out against the demonstration of favouritism by the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD). The NWD residents are claiming that their cargo which would consist of about one to three boxes is not being shipped to Mabaruma and Port Kaituma, including Morowhanna. They are claiming that discrimination and bribery are being practised by the NWD steamer authorities since it is only the tons of cargo belonging to the big businessmen which is being shipped to the NWD. The steamer leaves port Georgetown in Kingston for the NWD every two weeks, and residents would like the media to witness the harassment they go through at the T&HD Kingston wharf in getting their small cargo to their homes. NWD residents are also claiming that previously this never happened, and the new development by the T&HD authorities is affecting their livelihoods.
Yours faithfully,
Peter Persaud
