Dear Editor,
The move by Government to stop collecting tickets at the western end of the Demerara Harbour Bridge seems like a good idea to help ease the traffic congestion, but I am humbly begging the authorities not to stop collecting the tickets. That move will be putting people out of jobs and could also pave the way for corruption.
There is no mechanism to verify that a vehicle did purchase a ticket, especially when there is heavy traffic after the bridge is reopened to vehicular traffic during the day. When the bridge is closed, drivers are able to leave their vehicle and give their vehicle number and purchase tickets from the booths. When the traffic restarts the drivers pass the booth.
That way, lots of vehicles could pass thus causing the Harbour Bridge to lose revenue or they could use a ticket that they purchase sometime before and say they brought it from another booth. Apart from that, having a friend working there they could stop at the booth, pretend that they purchase a ticket and then move on.
Editor, another reason for me penning this letter asking for the government to revoke its decision to stop collecting tickets is the careless disposal of the tickets. The Demerara Harbour Bridge at the time of completion under the PNC Government was the longest floating bridge in the world, today if my information is correct; it’s the fourth longest floating bridge in the world, making it a major tourist attraction for our beloved Guyana. Motorists are aware that they don’t have any more use for the ticket and some of them being nasty just casually throw it out of the window
.
On Sunday 03rd October, whilst crossing the bridge in the evening, I was amazed to see the amount of white slips lying all over the bridge and if someone inspects the slips they will see the vehicle number on it. For me it was a very disgusting sight and to know that one of the main tourist attractions in our country is being littered by our very own Guyanese is very sickening.
There is no mechanism that could be implemented to stop that littering but to let them start back submitting their tickets at the western end.
Yours faithfully,
Sahadeo Bates
