Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson is appealing to loggers who use the larger of the two Kwakwani barges to bear with his ministry as the ministry is working to get the vessel up and running again soon.
“It will be up very shortly. It has a few holes and leaks and so [but] they will have it soon,” Patterson told Stabroek News yesterday when asked about the downed vessel.
His comments came in the wake of logger Kim Kissoon’s complaints that since the vessel was down last week he has been unable to transport his logs and his business is affected.
However, some Kwakwani residents told Stabroek News that they were not affected since most persons in the community use the smaller barge for the transport of their vehicles and that it was mainly loggers who were affected.
“That one [the large barge] don’t really affect us like that because most people use the small barge. When I was coming over Tuesday I heard the big one wasn’t working,” Delon Fields said.
“Mr [name given] had the contract under PPP time for plenty money and like he didn’t doing nothing for we. Big pothole in the street not a brick to throw in it… So when this new council come in and same time he contract de up, they made a proposal to the government them that is best we the people manage it,” said another resident, who asked not to be named.
Patterson explained that the issue with the larger barge was a complex one, as it was once managed by a private person, during the People’s Progressive Party’s tenure in office. He said the contractor defaulted on aspects of his contractual agreements, including giving back to the Kwakwani community.
That contract came to an end in December last year and government decided not to renew it but to give the barge to the Neighbourhood Democratic Council to manage, so that it could generate income for the community.
This did not seem to go down well with the previous contractor and Patterson said that since then, persons have been calling various places, claiming that the barge had been down for a longer period and saying other negative things.
“I am very weary,” Patterson said.
However, he said the Maritime Administration Department was “looking to get the tug boats and so and then we get it and hand it over to the NDC [Neighbourhood Democratic Council] so they can garner some funds from it.”
Meanwhile, the NDC has used social media to ask residents to be patient as arrangements are worked out for the barge.
“I ask stakeholders to be patient, as we understand the importance of this barge. The council is doing its best in making recommendations in your best interest,” Finance Committee member Juanita Thom-Leacock posted on the community’s social media page.
“Fellow Kwakwanians, Minister of Public Infrastructure Mr Patterson, Minister of Natural Resource and Governance Mr Trotman [have] asked that we hold on until Tuesday for the community barge to start back any work or any crossing,” she also stated saying that in the end the community will benefit from better terms and agreements.
Patterson stressed that communities were not benefiting from agreements made with private contractors during the last administration and he blasted those selfish private businesses who renege on their obligations to give back to communities saying that some operate in the very Kwakwani.
“These private business do not leave a red penny in any of these communities. They drive straight through Kwakwani, straight through Linden, not even stopping for a soft drink. However, when anything is being some to benefit the community they use your papers to further their cause. Why not ask them what they have done of Kwakwani? If they even employ a single person from that community?” he questioned.
The minister said he would maintain a firm stance against business people who promote self-interest and give no consideration to communities in which they operate.
