Several North West passengers stranded in G/T

Jan 09, 2013 News

… T&HD pleads with travelling public for patience

Yesterday there was a heavy build up of passengers at the Transport and Harbours Department Kingston wharf as only a limited number of persons were being allowed to board the Lady Northcote. The regular vessel has been sent for dry docking.
The buildup caused much frustration among the passengers, many of whom claimed that they needed to get back to their communities so that their children could return to school. Some persons also complained about the urgency to get back to the district to operate their businesses.

The MV Kimbia which is currently docked for routine repair works.

At the wharf yesterday, priority was given to some persons with children returning for school and persons living in the Kumaka area.
Meanwhile, General Manager of the Transport and Harbours Department, Ms. Merclene Merchant, when contacted on the issue said that the buildup is as a result of only one vessel plying the Georgetown to North West District route.
According to Merchant, currently the MV Kimbia has been docked for routine repairs. Ms Merchant told this publication that notices were placed in some sections of the media about the temporary schedule for transport to the North West District.
Merchant further explained that priority was given yesterday to passengers from Kumaka, since it was found that during the Christmas season there was a heavier outflow of passengers from that area.
She however noted that passengers from Port Kaituma were allowed on the Lady Northcote since passengers can seek other modes of transportation from Kumaka to Port Kaituma. She added that yesterday’s situation, where some persons had to be turned away, was as a result of the T&HD exercising caution, since the department did not want to overload the vessel and put passengers’ lives in jeopardy.
Merchant said the Lady Northcote is expected to return to port Georgetown next week for a scheduled run to Port Kaituma. In the interim, Merchant is appealing to members of the travelling public to be patient with the current system as the routine repair work to the other vessel is needed to ensure their safety.