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For this purpose, MARAD cadets visited moorings at Parika, St. Lawrence and Morasi; and went to the Lower Bonasika Primary School, all of whose 106 children and six teachers travel in two privately operated boats on the Bonasika Creek.
At time of the visit, a patrol team saw only two life jackets on the boats, and both were in a deplorable state.
Headmistress of the school, Mrs. Debra Mootoo, pointed to the need for more such interactions to educate the school population on the proper use of the river.
One of the private boat operators was present, and she told of the requirements for operating a boat and the safety regulations to be followed. The woman, who asked not to be named, has been conducting a service to the school for the past five years, since the boat given to the school ceased operating because of lack of maintenance.
The boat service operator said she would usually transport the teachers and children from Upper Bonasika Creek, and another person does similarly for those in Lower Bonasika Creek.
Monthly basis
The teachers and parents of the children would pay for the service on a monthly basis, as the operator would now have to register her boat as a passenger carrier, and fulfil the necessary requirements.
It was recommended that the headteacher should organize, at a later date, a session to license and register all boats in the creek. The cadets and other officials promised to return to facilitate this.
All students travelling on the waterways must, at all times, be equipped with life jackets, as should the operators.
The campaign will continue with river patrols and safety checks on boats at Fort Island, Hogg Island, Leguan and Wakenaam during the new week.
