Dear Editor,
Just recently, I travelled to Bartica, first by minibus to Parika which was an experience that should not condemn all minibus drivers but is, from what I understand, a regular occurrence on our road-ways. First of all, the “louts” and the driver both conspired to really overload our minibus, where I observed persons (male) squatting in the bus without a seat to offer security and comfort; this is after they had squeezed as many persons as they could into the bus. I would estimate that there were about 15 persons on that minibus, packed in like sardines.
Editor, the noise from two speakers in the rear of the bus was deafening, where one could not even hear the person sitting right next to you: the driver of the bus was driving so fast and recklessly that one had to fear for one’s life because with all those people in the bus which had to be going over 80 mph most of the time, an accident is something waiting to happen sooner or later. Half-way between Vreed-en-Hoop and Parika there was a police road-block but before we got to it there was a phone call to one of the louts and passengers were let off, the terribly loud stereo noise was turned down and the driver proceeded slowly to the police barricade where some haggling was done and we proceeded again with extra loud music, great speed and dangerous driving; I was glad to reach Parika safely and am convinced that the police need to go to greater lengths to apprehend these dangerous drivers, who are a threat to the citizens. Maybe the police could create a transit section in the Police Force and send in undercover police as passengers to observe and take action when gross violations occur like in the case of our minibus. What bothers me Editor, is that a lot of passengers told me that the experience I had is really the norm for our citizens who use minibuses. No wonder many big and fatal accidents involve minibuses which drive recklessly and breaking all the rules of common courtesy which all our citizens should enjoy. Our people deserve better.
Editor, on arrival in Parika, in order to catch a boat for Bartica, one has to go to a small beach area which is covered with litter and debris with no proper walkway, just grimy, dirty sand. The loading of passengers on the boats is done by putting a small wooden step ladder with water slapping against the bottom making it especially hazardous to older persons and women. The speed boat was loaded to the maximum, with a quite long delay as the loaders kept moving boxes, pieces of equipment and extra passengers until the boat was full as can be regardless of the weight it carried. From what I understand, a boat, like any other vehicle, has to carry specific maximum weight, especially when traversing such an expanse of water like the Essequibo river; there should be officials making sure that the citizens are protected when they travel that river and the government should build a proper dock for the boats and the comfort of the passengers travelling that route. I wonder how a frequently travelled route like Parika to Bartica can be so badly monitored by the authorities and the facilities so primitive that I have to come to the conclusion that no-one really cares. Our people deserve better.
Editor, the experience I had going to Bartica is basically the same travelling anywhere else in Guyana and I gather from talking to many others that the observations I made could apply to almost any route of travel the citizens use. Chaos, confusion and a general disregard for the comfort and security of our people who really work hard is evident in the modes of transport which this government settles for. We, the citizens deserve better.
Yours faithfully,
Cheddi(Joey)Jagan(Jr.)
