Dear Editor,
The backwardness in Guyana continues as newer encounters amaze me more and more. The most recent is the fact that the Transport and Harbours Department, New Amsterdam and Rosignol stellings’ inabilities to provide ‘change’ to ticket buyers. On June, I presented the ticket agent at Rosignol Ferry Stelling with two hundred dollars for two adult tickets. I was told that they do not have any ‘change!’ This was another occasion where the question, “Where are we going as a nation” warranted asking.
At both stellings there continues to be the erroneous message on a signboard which (if paraphrased) goes to tell the general public to “walk with exact change” when purchasing tickets to board the steamers—- the erroneous word being ‘walk’.
What is going on? The steamers arrive and depart at their own whims and fancies. There is hardly a schedule although a large schedule board is posted at the New Amsterdam end. Beggars and vagrants continue to humbug passengers as they join the line at Rosignol to purchase tickets. These people stand (sometimes blocking your paths) presumptuously ahead of you to beg or come to your seat as you await boarding. It is ridiculous! All these things are happening and the management of the Transport and Harbours Department isn’t budging one bit.
It worries me what people coming from other countries encounter when they arrive at places like these—- what an embarrassment. Yes, every country has vagrants and beggars but they must not be at these places.
The other day a man was beaten nearly to death by some persons at the New Amsterdam Stelling. Then a purported police officer proceeded to manhandle a cameraman of a New Amsterdam TV station at this stelling.
That’s not all. There are religious preachers on the ferries. Yes, no longer are the trips on the MV Makouria and MV Torani quiet, tranquil and relaxing. Once you’re seated inside there are loud religious preachers, who I believe are somewhat ‘bonkers’, dishing out Holy Scripture and making political and racial statements whenever the opportunity gives. I even knew a situation where one of them approached a Roman Catholic nun and told her that she was going straight to hell. Of course, her entire sermon after that was about attacking the poor nun and the Roman Catholic Church. Then at the end they would solicit monetary donations from the passengers? Are you kidding me Mr Editor? So the next time we’re travelling upstairs on the steamers we have to get money to give these people? This is ludicrous!
There is also a similar situation outside the Passport Office in Georgetown. Preachers are proclaiming their gospel and brand of Christianity outside this government office. If they can do it there then they can do it anywhere else.
Take them off the ferries and off public streets. This is certainly no place for them to be performing these acts. People just want some peace and quiet when crossing the Berbice River. I am appealing to the management of the T&HD, for the sake of our nation, to do the right thing and address these concerns.
Yours faithfully,
Leon James Suseran
