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Regional Chairman calls for Gov’t intervention in Bartica speedboat fare increase

May 14, 2011 News

For almost a week now the travelling public at Bartica has been voicing concern about the sudden and unexplained increase in speedboat fares.
Hence the Region Seven Chairman, Holbert Knights, on behalf of the travelling public, is calling on the Bartica Speedboat Owners Association and boat operators to rethink their move to arbitrarily increase passenger fares by 25 per cent; from $2000 to $2500.
According to a statement issued by the Regional Chairman’s office, the last fare increase, only two years ago, was met with severe condemnation, consternation and objection from the people of Bartica.
The objection then was ignored and the fare increase remained until last week when the “new fare” was introduced.
The statement continued that this time around, without any consultation with citizens or any government agency in Bartica or elsewhere, a notice was placed in the newspapers and on local television informing commuters of a pending increase.
“Conversely the president of the Bartica Speedboat Owners Association has since indicated his lack of knowledge about the notice being placed for the increase in fare”.
It has also been noted that numerous options can be explored through dialogue which can be mutually beneficial to all since the only rationale behind the “new fare” is the current gas price.
The statement further pointed out that it must also be taken into consideration that passengers’ safety, comfort and their general well-being while travelling has become an issue that has not been given much attention lately but yet another fare increase is upon the travelling public.
Notwithstanding that fact, it has been noted that the importance and value of the speedboat service cannot be underestimated; and for this simple fact it would appear that this increase has been accepted by some travellers.
“It must be vehemently stated that this increase has not been sanctioned nor agreed to by the relevant authorities.”
While it may be understandable that the boat owners and operators will have their financial obligation and ambitions, the exploitation of the very people we depend on is certainly not the best way of realising such ambitions.
People of Bartica, and by extension, the travelling public are therefore making an empathetic plea to the Government of Guyana thru’ the relevant regulatory and enforcement agencies to immediately intervene to ensure this unacceptable and callous fare increase is not allowed to be made mandatory since such will no doubt create some level of hardship on commuters.

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