Dear Editor,
I wish to highlight the current situation that is being practised at the above pontoon crossing on the Essequibo River at Kurupukari operated by MMC.
This service is advertised as a paid service to commuters by way of billboards and other public advertisements as an Hourly Crossing from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.
However my experiences on the afternoons of January 20th, 2011 and February 24th, 2011 indicate otherwise.
On the 20th January, 2011, we arrived at 3:00 p.m. at the Iwokrama end and the pontoon remained on the opposite end of the river until approximately 4:30 p.m., when Mazda Construction vehicles and personnel arrived at the Iwokrama point for crossing.
On the 24th February, 2011, we arrived at 4:00 p.m., along with other 4×4 vehicles, Canter trucks, B.K. International heavy duty lorries at the Iwokrama point, but the pontoon never came over until after 5:00 p.m., enabling us to cross the river at 5:45 p.m.
This of course resulted in a mad rush along the trail to get to Georgetown or where ever.
Conversations with knowledgeable commuters at the Iwokrama point seem to indicate that this is a regular practice and that the pontoon is not operated as advertised but usually awaits MMC personnel and vehicles who may be working on the Iwokrama section to complete their work and who have to cross at around 4:30 p.m. for their base camp.
As this service is advertised publicly as a paid service “
on-the-hour crossing” from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily, the relevant authority responsible for awarding such contracts should insist that this service is maintained as advertised and not for the convenience of the owners at the expense of the weary and tired travelling public.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. K. Mangal
