KINGSTON - Following the cries of residents of Wakenaam, the administration of the Wakenaam stelling, under the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, will come under scrutiny.
These complaints were voiced by the residents to Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Honourable Annette Ferguson, during her visit on Monday December 7, 2015.
The visit was a part of Minister Ferguson’s mandate to interact directly with the populace.
During discussions, many residents expressed concern with the administration of the Wakenaam stelling, particularly in relation to its erratic schedules.
Several residents gathered at the Wakenaam stelling and explained to Minister Ferguson that there is oftentimes no fixed schedule, resulting in many inconveniences.
“There are many days we come for a certain time, only to hear the ferry has left,” one resident said. He further said that he would have been left at the Parika stelling on at least three occasions.
Another resident added, “We are not asking for $10B or $15B to be injected into this stelling; all we’re asking is that those who are part of its administration to do things that are of maximum benefit to the passengers.”
The residents also expressed displeasure with the fact that the ferry service is only available a few days each week and requested the resumption of daily services. The residents, particularly the businesspersons, further stressed that the alternative of speedboats was too expensive in the long run while the erratic schedule would have severely affected their businesses.
The residents all agreed that a better ferry service would ultimately promote Wakenaam’s development.
“The problem is not anything big; it’s just managerial problems here,” one man said to Minister Ferguson. He said that issues such as a low volume of passengers should not determine whether the ferry service is available or not. “Transport and Harbours is supposed to provide a service to the people rather than acting like a business so it does not matter if there are not enough persons,” he emphasised.
In turn, Minister Ferguson expressed concern at the problems highlighted.
“We are providing a service and this is a service that the Wakenaam people are depending on,” Minister Ferguson said. “We can’t suffer them,” she emphasised.
Minister Ferguson further assured the residents that the issues raised will receive immediate attention.
However, she also urged the Wakenaam residents, particularly the business community, to play their part. Noting the dilapidated state of the Wakenaam Post Office, Minister Ferguson indicated that there are little things that can be done by the residents to benefit the Wakenaam community.
Meanwhile, Minister Ferguson made several other visits on Wakenaam. Amongst her stops was a trip to the Wakenaam Guyana Power and Light (GPL) power plant; the construction of rip-rap at Maria Johanna; a visit to the Wakenaam Sea Defence Office; and an inspection of the Wakenaam Post Office.
During all of these stops, Minister Ferguson interacted with residents and officials to determine areas of concerns and the conditions of which they were living and working. Some of the issues raised were the degradation of sea defence as well as poorly maintained roads.
Many expressed pleasure with Minister Ferguson’s visit to the island.
Minister Ferguson’s five-hour visit concluded at a meeting with several more residents where further concerns were raised. Out of this meeting, Minister Ferguson promised the residents that she and a team from MPI will return shortly to address the issues raised.
