Despite the millions spent by the government to ensure that the Supenaam Stelling re-places the Adventure Stelling, the facility remains closed, but businesses in Supenaam remain optimistic that its opening will spur revenue and jobs.
Inquiries at the stelling office during a recent visit by Stabroek News, revealed that the attendant did not know when the bungled $450m stelling will be opened.
One grocery store owner through Sawmill Road in Supenaam, who asked not to be named, explained that business would improve once the stelling opens, because more traffic will be passing through the area and this “might create some more employment.” Currently this family-owned business has one employee.
It was explained that since production at the nearby sawmill was halted “a lot of people [are] still out of jobs.”
Stabroek News understands that the sawmill had over 100 employees at one time, but had steadily reduced its numbers before ceasing operations. This grocery store stocks a number of items including cosmetics. At month-end and fortnightly, the store owner says they receive a lot of support from workers at the lumber company Barama and from miners coming out of the interior locations.
However, one thing she says that is keeping up the business is their friendliness toward customers. Neverthe-less, this business does not plan on expanding any further, but aims to maintain above level stock in its inventory.
Joy, only name given, of Joy’s Variety Store, has operated her outlet for over 40 years and she believes that once the stelling is in operation it will be good for business because she will gain more customers. At the time of this interview she related that business was “kinda slow” right now, but pointed out that there was no special time when the business ‘picks up’. However, Joy indicated that during the one week that the problem-plagued stelling operated “sales were good.” Joy does not plan on expanding any aspect of her business, until the stelling is operational and she can judge what the level of patronage will be. She stocks haberdasheries, goods and beverages.
More competition
While for some the stelling presents an opportunity to increase sales, for others it would mean they have to be more competitive. But it is competition that the boat operators and service industry are looking forward to.
At Adventure, hotel operator Rickford Smith declared that he is not fearful about losing any business, since it is his view that the stelling will not be moving soon to Supenaam. Smith manages Travel Lodge at 5 Adventure, opposite the stelling. He argues that the Supenaam Stelling is not designed to carry big vehicles so Adventure will always have to be working. Although it was pointed out to Smith that efforts are expected to rectify the flaws, he was adamant that his business will not be affected and he will continue to gain patronage.
The Speed Boat Associa-tion is also expecting competition, but believes that they can handle it.
Vice Chairman Arnold Adams of the Speed Boat Association (SBA), who is also Liaison Officer to the Home Affairs Ministry, told this newspaper that they believe a lot of speed boat passengers will travel with the ferries and it would not be the same. The SBA operates the Parika/Supenaam route and its landing station in the Supenaam Creek is only one road away from the new stelling. It is his view that it would cause a “big, big, impact.” “A lot of passengers would head off that way,” he reiterated, noting that for the couple of days that the stelling was in operation, a reasonable number of passengers travelled with the ferry.
Nevertheless, the speed boats “will always remain competitive,” says Adams, because it takes less time than the ferries. For instance, he explained that passengers have meetings and appointments that they must meet in the city and elsewhere, and the speed boats would provide that convenience, even though its price at $2400 return is far higher than the ferry which is some $760 return. On any given day there are 40 plus boats working the Parika/Supenaam route, that is half of the total number of speed boats that are a part of the SBA. This is done, says Adams, to ensure that all the boats receive patronage. Among the reasons given for the higher speed boat rates are fluctuating gas prices, the yearly rates of $30,500 per boat as water usage fees and parts and maintenance costs. Adams contends that the water usage rate is high, since according to him the road licence fee is $4,500, and repairs have to be done to the road while in contrast no repairs have to be done to the river.
In addition, the new stelling in his view cannot ac-commodate the speed boats, since “out there (the river) it would be more rough for landing,” Adams points out.
The Supenaam Creek which is used is smoother than the river it was noted, based on a survey they did. Hence, Adams believes that a stelling should be built in the Supenaam Creek for the speed boats. This venture he believes may cost $2M to $3M.
In early May, the Supenaam stelling began operation, but was forced to close after it experienced difficulties.
The ramp and a pontoon that was not in the original design, built by the government, sank, following the Certificate of Completion that was issued to BK Inter-national, the construction firm in January, and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.
Also earlier this year, the Ministry of Public Works and Communication took over the stelling after concerns with its construction and decided to rectify certain problems it had identified, after the Certificate of Completion had been issued.
The ministry had problems with the ramp and the flotation pontoon supporting the ramp. The project schedule and duration was intended to be from March 14, 2006 to September 14, 2007, but had gone 439 days over the plan.
The original design for the stelling was for a roll-on/roll-off gangway. It was expected that three ferries would have been in operation between Parika and the Essequibo Coast. And the new stelling was expected to reduce travelling time by about one hour.
