KINGSTON, Georgetown – Persons, who frequently use the power boat service as a mode of transportation, have the right to request the licenses of boat operators before boarding the vessels.
This is the view of Maritime Administration Department’s (MARAD) head, Claudette Rogers.
“Your life should be important to you as it is to us. We think it is absolutely necessary and we think it would only take one second of your time to ask that question, which will determine whether you will go with that operator or not. The choice becomes yours… You may the person that makes a difference,” Ms. Rogers said.
While the department has made it mandatory for operators to have copies of their license on the vessels, there have been a number of illegal operators traversing the waterways.
Therefore, in an effort to curb such a practice, MARAD has pushed for greater maritime safety.
According to Ms. Rogers, MARAD officers are partnering with boat associations and have been in continuous consultations with them. Ongoing meetings have been held to discuss safety issues and every quarter the department reviews operators’ vessels.
“…this is to ensure [that] the boats are outfitted with the requisite gear and paperwork for their vessels are up to standard,” she explained.
Likewise, keen attention has been placed along the Mazaruni area whereby life jackets are distributed to school children. Patrols too, Ms. Rogers added, have heightened.
“We have been using our marine vessels at least once or twice a week, with an estimated 50 illegal operators caught so far for the year,” she said.
