Georgetown : The Alliance For Change (AFC) briefing members of the media says over a decade now, the residents of the Essequibo Coast have been subjected to a very irregular and unreliable ferry service between the Adventure but now Supenaam and Parika Stellings.
Because the practice of dredging the Essequibo Channel was discontinued in this time, there has been the formation of obstructing sandbanks in the areas between Hogg Island and Wakenaam. This has to be seen as an abysmal failure of the Ministry of Works and Hydraulics. The AFC understands that the M.V. Steve. N which previously did dredging in the Essequibo channel many years ago is currently moored at the Transport and Harbours Department in Georgetown and has been out of operation for the longest while.
It has to be pointed out very clearly here that the majority of commuters using this service are primarily poor people unable to pay on a regular basis the $1300 charged by the speed boat service.
The ferry service is the sole mode of transport for vehicular traffic between the Essequibo Coast and Parika. This fact alone underscores the difficulty and inconvenience experienced by drivers who cross this channel on a regular basis.
The AFC calls on Minister Benn under whose remit this issue falls, to expedite the dredging of the Essequibo Channel.
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