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Essequibo truckers stranded at Parika Stelling since Saturday
Most of the stranded truckers at the Parika Stelling.
Truckers transporting perishable goods to the Essequibo Coast have been stranded at the Parika Stelling for over six days and with every passing day, they are incurring losses.
They are stalled because the MV Malali, one of the two ferries that transport them across the Essequibo River, has been docked for repairs.
Ronaldo Persaud, driver of a Bedford truck, said that the Essequibo truckers have been having transportation problems for many years.
He stated that they decided to report the issue on channel 65’s, News Update, last November.
He stated that the Clerk of the Stelling, Aaron Jagroop, told them that not even the Minister of Works can relieve him of his post and Persaud believes that the trucks are being spited because of the news bulletin that they were featured in.
Yesterday, Kaieteur News visited the Parika Stelling and there were three lanes of vehicles stretching from the Stelling to the location of the Parika roadside market. All of them were headed to Essequibo Coast.
Mohan Lall, one of the stranded truckers, said that he has been waiting to head home for five days now. He explained that when the two ferry vessels operated at worse two or three vehicles would be left behind for about a day.
Asked to comment when only one ferry vessel operated, he said that these days business has expanded, people are buying more vehicles and to compound the issue the rice crop is being reaped.
He said that at present some 35 trucks are stranded at Parika and the number keeps increasing with each passing day.
The ferry, Mv Makouria, carries seven trucks per trip. Mohan Lall said that space is still needed for the smaller vessels, priority crossings and vehicles from Wakenaam.
He said that all the truckers are transporting perishables. He said that he had fruits (pineapples, cherries, guavas etc) and these were rotting.
Richard Samaroo, another trucker, spoke of a businessman who had to dump 61 cases each containing 24 tubs of butter because the heat had made a meal of them.
Shameer Ali was devastated because he was transporting cheese.
Mr. Jagroop, the head clerk of the Stelling wasn’t available for any comment and the General Manager of Transport and Harbours, Mr.Kevin Trim said he couldn’t comment on the issue since it was being rectified.
And indeed Transport and Harbours Department had put the Baramani, a pontoon, into service. However, the department had to withdraw that vessel because it had no lights. It had just been released from the docks. That would have helped to reduce the number of small vehicles.
Amit Seemangal said that there should be at least three operating vessels since Essequibo is a very vital supplier of greens and vegetables for Georgetown.
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