Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 11, 2009 News
Members of the Bartica Speedboat Association are calling on the relevant authorities to provide them with all the necessary facilities to ensure the safety and comfort of commuters traveling from Parika to Bartica.
During a meeting with some members, yesterday, it was noted that on a daily basis boat operators are being made to pay a fee of $800 per trip. As such the operators feel that since they are paying the monies they should be given proper facilities, more so at Parika.
As it is now, the operators said they are using a privately-owned shed which is located at Parika to house passengers before they board the vessel.
“We have, on a daily basis, 25 boats plying the Parika to Bartica route and every boat has to pay $800 and we are getting nothing in return,” one operator said.
The operators are calling for the construction of a proper waiting room for passengers and a floating ramp to ensure the safety of passengers boarding a vessel.
Currently the Parika Transport and Harbour stelling is falling apart, thus making it hard for passengers to board vessels with the changing tide.
In addition, the Association said they are working feverishly to meet the March month end deadline of having their boats fitted with sheds for passengers’ comfort.
The operators were ordered by Minister Robeson Benn to have their boats fitted with sheds is order to protect passengers from the weather.
However, this has raised some concerns for the operators despite the fact they have agreed to comply.
According to the operators, the shed would now mean more expense for them and this cost will eventually trickle down to the passengers, causing them to once again raise their fares.
One operator explained that with the shed on the boats, in most cases it would mean that they would have to put an additional engine on the boat to get proper mobility.
The operator further explained that the shed will add extra weigh to the vessel and put strain on the engine and an extra engine would be needed to propel the vessel.
The operator explained that more gas would be needed for a vessel with two engines. Another concern raised by the operators was the fact that they are not sure whether or not the shed will be keeping with maritime laws.
However, the operators are already preparing their vessels to meet the deadline since they have been told that once they do not have their sheds fitted by that date they will not be allowed to operate.
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