Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill has pledged to meet with seafarers to address their working conditions and other issues of concern.
Edghill made the commitment on Friday at an event held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre to mark ‘Day of the Seafarer,” which is being held under the theme ‘Your voyage – then and now, share your journey.’
‘Day of the Seafarer’ is observed on June 25 each year and was first celebrated here in 2011.
According to a Department of Public Information report, Edghill told those in attendance that the government wants to do more for them.
“…so that you can do more for all of us because this industry, your work is so important and so key that even if sufficient attention was not paid prior, recognition of the need for an engagement and working with seafarers has certainly taken front burner,” he was quoted as saying.
Stressing the importance of seafarers, the minister highlighted that the world stood at a standstill when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and ships were not moving. This, he said, led to shortages worldwide, but also opened the eyes to the world, the vital role of seafarers.
“I would like to have a conversation with you through your various representatives and the stakeholders that are here to see how we could improve guaranteed conditions for the health, safety, and wellbeing of seafarers. We cannot continue just doing what we did. The voyage then is totally different from the voyage now, much more is happening,” he added.
The report noted that Edghill highlighted that since taking office government has taken a number of steps to reposition the sector in light of the developments in the oil and gas sector. He said the interventions have seen the establishment of an oil and gas division at the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD).
He also saidseafarers will be benefitting from a special mobile plan from GTT which will afford them 10GB of data, 300 minutes of talk time and 500 SMS at a cost of $2999.
He also said there might be need to approach insurance companies for customised packages for seafarers.
The report also noted that ‘Day of the Seafarer’ is designed to recognise the tangible contributions and selfless sacrifices made by seafarers towards the development of the maritime industry. It said Captain Sherry-Ann Wilson, one of the first female captains in the industry in Guyana is well aware of such sacrifices.
Captain Wilson, who has 10 years of experience in the profession, said to be celebrated is an overwhelming feeling, as not many know the daily struggles seafarers experience. “When the entire world would have been shutting down, seafarers, quoting the words of the minister, still had to work and we had to get commodities from point A to point B and when persons realised that ‘hey, we need this thing,’ seafarers are the ones that’s leading, getting things done, that is when we were appreciated. I am glad that this day is set aside for us so that we can be celebrated,” Captain Wilson was quoted as saying.
Captain Jermaine Blackman, who has been in the profession for 21 years, shared similar sentiments.
“It is good that they have recognised us because [a] majority of the times you hear the airplane pilots getting recognised, but I am not aware of any plane that took a boat anywhere but there are vessels that take planes to different destinations. Our job is very serious, the responsibility is very high. There is a saying, heavy is the head that wears the anchor. So, at all times the captain has to be thinking because he has to think about passenger safety, safety of property, life at sea and stuff like that. So, it is very challenging, but at times fun,” he said.
An exhibition was also held showcasing booths from MARAD and other stakeholders in the shipping industry.
