Boating operators traversing the route between Parika and Supenaam have agreed to enforce social distancing on their vessels to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 among passengers.
“As a safety concern, we all know the COVID-19 pandemic that is going on so we are trying to reduce the number of passengers that the vessels carry,” said Joseph Mendes a boat captain with about 20 years’ experience working on the Essequibo River, according to the Department of Public Information (DPI).
The captain told DPI the carrying capacity of the 5-seater boats will be limited to 14 passengers and for the 6-seater vessels, a limit of 17 passengers will be set. These safety measures will take effect from today until further notice.
Meanwhile, Director General of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) Claudette Rogers
yesterday distributed cleaning supplies and flyers detailing good hygiene measures to the boating operators at the Parika Stelling.
While applauding the Supenaam operators for reducing their boats’ passenger-capacity, Rogers expressed hope that the Bartica speed boat operators make a similar decision, DPI said.
