The Leguan Ferry Service will function normally for a limited time to accommodate residents who have been inconvenienced by the major repairs underway to the stelling on the Essequibo River island.
Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) Jaipaul Sharma yesterday met with rice farmers and a miller as well as other business persons in Leguan, Region Three where he committed to restarting the regular operating hours of the ferry service for a limited time to cater for their needs.
A release from MPI said that the Minister was at the time speaking to residents during a meeting which was specifically held to discuss the matters affecting them on the Island.
Sharma was told that due to the ongoing construction works at the Leguan Stelling, the regular hours of the Ferry Service was disrupted, therefore affecting rice farmers and the business community as well as commuters who wish to transport their goods on a large scale.
The service was disrupted as the stelling was not in a safe state to facilitate heavy loads. It was also interrupted to enable the rehabilitation works presently ongoing.
Critics have said that the government was tardy in responding to the major repairs that were needed to the stelling. Islanders had complained for months about its dangerous state.
A section of it later collapsed and another part gave way when the repairs to the stelling actually began.
The MPI release said that several suggestions were made but the Minister eventually agreed to resuming the service for a period of time to cater for the transportation of the residents’ goods especially their rice.
So far, the Minister explained that the Ferry will be arriving in Leguan around 7 am to facilitate the business persons. The boat will later return to the island from Parika during the afternoon hours at approximately 4 pm.
During the visit, the release said that Sharma was also taken on a walkabout to assess some of the ongoing and completed projects. The Minister said that drainage works were progressing well to aid in reducing flooding in the area caused by heavy rainfall. The clearing of the drains will assist the rice farmers and cash crop farmers. Those works are being undertaken by a private contractor, A. Nazir Construction and General Supplies for the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.
Sharma was advised on some of the major works that are required, including the clearing of a key canal at Uniform to Richmond Hill on the island. The importance of this project was stressed by the residents as they pointed out that the area was recently flooded due to heavy rainfall.
Residents also requested assistance to fix about eight street lights which have not been working for a few weeks now.
