Ten issues the Demerara speedboat service needs to address urgently

Feb 27, 2017 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I wish to highlight some important points that needed attention and correction regarding the speedboat service at the Vreed-en-hoop/GT stellings. As a daily passenger using the Demerara speedboat service, I noted that there are some basic guidelines and regulations lacking in the interest of passengers safety and needed to be implemented and monitored and I highlight them as follows:
1) Drunken bowmen and captains – there are occasions when it is quite noticeable that (especially) bowman are in a drunken state or under the influence of drugs.
2) Indecent language and the frequency with which it is used is appalling to passengers. Considering that there are decent persons travelling, the elderly, children, women and other professionals who use the service and are subjected to obscene language in the open is most shocking and distasteful, especially during the morning leg of the journey. Also a captain or bowman would not think twice to verbally abuse passengers at the drop of a hat.
3)  Many times I noticed that captains or bowmen don’t take the time and effort to balance their boatd before a trip. As soon as a boat is filled, the bowman never looks back into boat and the captain’s eyes are only on the route. Sometimes the boat is tilted on one side or the front seat overloaded and no one cares.
4) Inexperienced captains handling vessels in rough waters are common. For those who travel regularly, it is quite noticeable when a captain cannot handle a vessel in the correct manner. Since there are experienced captains as well as inexperienced ones, passengers can easily detect the difference in rough waters. It is quite amazing that there are no accidents or mishaps.
5) Overloading the vessel is common especially in the evening when the officer in charge leaves at 6pm. Not all the vessels are of the same size but all have the same passenger numbers listed on their approval document. Each vessel should be assessed on their individual size, merit and capacity and not a one size fits all system.
6) There is a lack of guiding signals by hand or light to indicate which direction the vessel is heading; something similar to a trafficator or hand signal. Many times opposite captains and bowman curse and shout at each for not indicating where to pass, especially close to the mooring ends of their journey.
7) No means of communication if there is a distress call in the river. There needs to be some form of flashing (light) signal or a radio message to port in case of an SOS, so that the necessary relief can be dispatched. This can be made easier and faster if a simple switch is used by the captain to effect such a distress call. Many times vessels would experience mechanical failures and other form of distress in midstream and are left drifting while at the mercy of the waves. The captains on the other hand would never seek help because they fear losing their cargo to another vessel, meaning the fares. In such a scenario, someone in authority needs to be on the lookout and have the ability to render assistance.
8) Names of Vessels or captains cannot be recognized at the point of loading unless one enters the boat. Passengers are usually comforted by the fact that they know they can place their lives in the hands of a safe captain whom they trust. Many a time one enters a vessel and experiences the fear and horror when one recognizes an errant captain and it is almost impossible to exit the vessel when it is rush hour. One cannot identify the captain from the outside or the name of the vessel because of its position next to the wharf; hence passengers’ ability to select is prevented. If a captain’s number or vessel number can be affixed at the top front of the boat, this may alleviate the anxiety.
9) Little or no visibility when side plastic is dropped. Many vessels are guilty of having the protective side plastic without the required transparency to guide their captains’ and passengers’ visibility alike. Sometimes it seems as if the captains are guessing their way forward when the side plastic is dropped because of rain or lashing waves.
10) Last but not least, there is serious difficulty with communication between bowman and captain. It is of utmost importance for these two individuals to have easy contact. Currently and has always been the case, the captains have to shout several times to gain the attention of the bowman and vice versa. Considering that the breeze is strong, the sound of the lapping waves, the enclosed door and the noise from the engine, the bowman would have difficulty hearing the cries of the captain. A solution to this is a buzzer system at the two ends of the vessel operated by a simple switch.
The above 10 points needs urgent attention from the relevant authorities if there is one. This service is the main channel of transportation between the capital city and the western half of the country especially how there is no ferry service or government controlled transportation system.
Suzette Anthony

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