-as new Bartica Stelling nears completion
Those speed boat operators who raise their fares for the Christmas season will be penalised was the warning given by Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, when he conducted an inspection on Friday morning of the ongoing infrastructural works on the Bartica Stelling in Region Seven, a Department of Public Information (DPI) release stated.
Originally scheduled for completion in October, the project, which is nearing completion, faced delays due to the frequent movement of vessels, which restricted the use of heavy machinery during passenger, vehicle, and cargo loading and offloading operations.
Thus far, concrete works are now 75 per cent complete, while the link-span bridge has reached 90 per cent completion. The remaining works include the installation of timber members on the link-span bridge, installation of the scales, and the completion of the fender system.
“So, we just held a meeting with all the players – MARAD [Maritime Administration Department], Transport and Harbours, and my engineers, who are supervising the works to ensure that we coordinate. As we get into the busy period, Christmas is going to also see a great increase,” Edghill stated.
Despite ongoing construction, Edghill emphasised that the area must remain clean and free of litter, and directed the Transport and Harbours Department to ensure the stelling is well maintained.
The minister also confirmed that there are no approved fare increases for speedboat operators.
“Speedboat operators caught demanding higher fares during the Christmas period will be banned from the service,” Edghill warned.
According to the release, when completed, the new stelling is expected to enhance the efficiency of the Bartica Stelling, ensuring it meets the region’s growing demands while fostering safety and economic development.
Edghill also called for heightened safety measures for speedboat operations following a troubling incident where a vessel broke down four times on the river in a single day.
“I have instructed the MARAD staff to ensure it is pulled out and cannot operate again until it is cleared and inspected by boat surveyors from MARAD.” He also took the opportunity to highlight the standard protocol requiring boats to undergo routine engine servicing after a specified number of trips, and emphasised the need for stringent maintenance standards to protect passengers, the release added.
