Dear Editor,
It is hard to understand that with all the proclaimed regulations and checks and balances, ‘captains’ not certified, boats not permitted to operate a certain route, and operating after the stipulated hours, are routinely doing so, flouting the system, to the detriment of passengers, as was the case in the recent tragedy. It has to be wondered how the boat could be allowed to operate after the stipulated hours.
Further, it was alleged, in this tragedy, that passengers were not wearing life jackets (News Room September 19). Is there a law against this? The ‘captains of the ill-fated boat claimed the boat was ‘punctured while navigating a damaged beacon’. The relevant authorities need to look at these damaged aids in the waterways and have them removed or replaced. Now tragedy has struck and again lives are lost. The systems, it seemed failed, allowing this tragedy. My condolences to the grieving families.
Sincerely,
Shamshun Mohamed
