Dear Editor,
An evaluation of the Transport and Harbours Department at Parika stelling for the last two decades would lead to the conclusion that there has been no recognizable policy there. On Monday, September 15, 2014, I called the booking clerk at Supenaam, to book my car so I could transport a sick person who had an appointment with a doctor at Dr Balwant Singh’s Hospital.
The young lady was very kind and courteous; she booked my car and told me to be there 2 hours in advance before the loading time of the ferry, which was due to depart Supenaam at 10am. As I arrived at the gate the guard greeted me in a very professional manner and opened the gate for my car to enter the compound. The staff in general at Supenaam stelling are very kind and courteous and operate in a professional manner. After we docked at Parika stelling, I proceeded to the supervisor’s office to book my car for the return trip.
The supervisior told me that Transport and Harbours had stopped booking vehicles in advance; however, I could book my car four hours before the boarding time of the ferry on Tuesday. I drove my car from Georgetown to Parika in the morning to book my car for the 10 pm ferry. I left Georgetown at 3 in the afternoon with my sick patient and arrived at the gate at 6 pm. I was told by a guard that I could not go on to the stelling with my sick patient although my car had been booked. I was amazed that suddenly the orders were changed; then she called a senior booking clerk and showed her my patient’s critical condition in the car, and she said that the sick should be allowed in the waiting area on the stelling.
She then brought the supervisor and they decided to allow my car onto the stelling to board the ferry. One of the ferry workers then started to direct me to board the ferry but at the same time he demanded a bribe from me saying that he was helping me out because the ferry was already filled. I told him that I had no money since I had to pay the doctors all my money to treat my patient. He continued to demand a bribe from me while my car was parked in the ferry in the full view of other commuters, but I refused to give him the bribe. He then said, “Enjoy your night.”
Editor, we need to put all our differences aside and really begin to speak with a shared voice against corruption. Some drivers have lauded me for being so brave in speaking out against this scourge which is eating away our society. The Minister should dismiss these kinds of employees who are a menace to tourists, members of the public, the sick, the poor and even the wealthy. I was appalled that this man was so brazen as to demand a bribe in full view of the public; I hadn’t encountered this kind of treatment prior to this. I have now decided to fly from Kayman Sankar’s airstrip to Ogle and back to avoid this kind of embarrassment.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan
