Passenger describes pontoon trip as ‘hell on earth’

Passengers sitting on the floor of the vessel while travelling to Bartica from Parika

By Subhana Shiwmangal

A woman and her mother are now suffering from recurring headaches after they were forced to sit in the sun on the floor of the pontoon, MV Hercules, to make the journey between  Bartica and Parika route during the Easter Regatta festivities. She has expressed her disappointment in the way senior citizens are treated.

Naomi Caesar of Lot 244 Schoonoord, West Bank Demerara told the Stabroek News on Saturday that it was customary for her and her family to travel from Parika to Bartica and sell food. This year, she, her mother, father, sisters, children, and a family friend, were forced to sit on the pontoon which has left both her and her mother suffering from headaches.

According to Caesar, it was “hell on earth” for her, as her mother got sick while she came down with the flu.