Dear Editor,
Please publish this letter to express a more factual account as to the many inconveniences that were experienced by boat operators using the Mazaruni River from early June, when the Crown Mining dredge sank, to October.
I am the CEO of Odyssey Transportation Inc. and may I point out, a good friend of Mr Mahendra Persaud. I was quite surprised to see Mr Persaud put a full page statement in Stabroek News on Sunday 16th, where aside from a small paragraph of apology he went on to say that no one was greatly affected by the mishap. Well I beg to differ. My boats were directly prevented from operating for thirty three days, and this can easily be verified by contacting the police at Bartica with whom passengers are required to check on every trip. And strangely my company was notified on several occasions by Crown Mining Company not to operate on days they requested.
I cannot speak for other boat users, and sorry but I can’t afford a full page statement but I hope this gives people a better perspective and to Mr Persaud I say just a simple apology would have been enough. On this matter I say no more.
Yours faithfully,
Feroze Barakat
