Latest update January 3rd, 2025 4:30 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

A WELCOME CHANGE

Oct 31, 2008 Editorial

The stated intention of the Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, to initiate an enquiry into the vessel which capsized last week in the Corentyne River, is a welcome development.
The Jagdeo administration has shown a general reluctance to launch commissions of inquiry into national disasters, the most notable and inexcusable of which have been the massacres at Bartica, Lusignan and Lindo Creek.
While this announced intention to investigate the recent river disaster thus represents a welcome change in approach, we hope that the investigation will probe all aspects of the tragedy and seek to find ways and means of making the thriving and necessary river crossing safe for the hundreds who use it every day.
We hope that the government will waste no time in determining just what went wrong with the vessel and whether there were any failures and shortcomings in the search and rescue operation.
Based on the accounts of one survivor, she found herself marooned along with her brother on a sandbank. She said she later lost consciousness and when she regained her awareness the water had risen, and she did not see her brother. His body was subsequently washed ashore.
This version tends to indicate that with a massive search and rescue operation, the number of survivors could have increased. This is one of the things that the inquiry should determine. The inquiry should also ascertain whether support was requested from the Surinamese and what was the level of the support that was given.
It should also determine whether the vessel strayed from the stipulated route and whether it was operating outside of the normal hours of operation.
The government has already hinted that there is a legal alternative to the speedboat river crossing. They have pointed to the ferry service that exists between Guyana and Suriname from the Moleson Creek end on the Guyana side.
If, however, this crossing is to become a viable alternative, the government needs to ensure that certain things are put in place.
The first of these has to be a faster vessel. It takes far too long for the ferry to make the crossing when compared to the speed boats that ply the illegal route. Because hundreds of Guyanese go each day to work and shop in Suriname and expect to return the same day, there is need for a faster vessel which can at least make four trips each day so as to satisfy the demand for such a service.
Secondly, there is need for greater reliability in the ferry service. There should be fixed times of arrival and departure and these should be adhered to by the vessel.
On the Suriname side, there is need for a better road service so that the time it takes to reach Nickerie is reduced. One of the reasons why the speedboat route is so frequented is because it is faster and passengers are deposited right into the centre of Nickerie, which makes it convenient, and the preferred service for commuters between the two countries.
The speedboat service has the advantage of being faster and more convenient, but the downside is the risk involved in passing through the treacherous straits.
The ferry is safer, and allows vehicles to cross, but it is often not on time and is extremely slow. We hope that any inquiry will examine ways in which the two river crossing services could be improved rather than one simply replacing the other.
We welcome the proposed inquiry and hope that the truth will emerge so that there is no repeat of last week’s tragedy.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Tonight: Sparta Boss goes up against Bent Street ‘A’ for K&S National Futsal title

Tonight: Sparta Boss goes up against Bent Street ‘A’ for K&S...

Jan 03, 2025

Lady Royals and Kanaimas to clash for Female championship Kaieteur Sports- The inaugural Kashif and Shanghai/One Guyana National Futsal Championship, which kicked off at the National Gymnasium with...
Read More
Botafgo pummel Milerock, 11-7, to become new UDFA Christmas Futsal Champions 

Botafgo pummel Milerock, 11-7, to become new UDFA...

Jan 03, 2025

BCB player transfer window opens for 2025 

BCB player transfer window opens for 2025 

Jan 03, 2025

Archery Guyana National 2-Day Indoor Senior Barebow Open, shoots off January 11 

Archery Guyana National 2-Day Indoor Senior...

Jan 03, 2025

Grandmaster Jose Luis Montes to lead Self-Defense Seminar

Grandmaster Jose Luis Montes to lead Self-Defense...

Jan 03, 2025

Keevin Allicock – the next torchbearer for Guyanese professional boxing

Keevin Allicock – the next torchbearer for...

Dec 31, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]