Even as residents protested the move, Bartica speedboat operators yesterday hiked the fare for travel between the interior community and Parika to $2,500.
Reports out of the community yesterday are that the fare increase was met with some opposition by residents but it was noted that residents had no other choice but to pay the additional $500 called for by the boat operators. Bartica resident Winston Miller told this newspaper yesterday that many persons in the community expressed disgust at the increase in the boat fare noting that the move by the speedboat association was seen as sudden. He said the relevant government bodies have not mentioned anything regarding the increase in the fare. A resident in the community, who asked not to be named, said that she travelled to the city yesterday and was asked to pay an extra $500 in addition to the $2000 normally charged by the boat operators. It was noted too by other Barticians that while many opposed the situation not many choices were available to residents. Domestic flights are available to and from the community but residents said the airfares were too high.
This newspaper was told that the boat operators cited an increase in the price of gas as being the grounds on which the fare increase was made but residents said such grounds were not enough.
A notice was aired over the weekend in the mining community on a television station signalling an increase in the boat fare.
Attempts yesterday to obtain a comment from president of the speedboat association at Bartica, Clarence Bell, were futile while secretary of the body, Oscar Joseph, was said to be out of the area.
