MANAGING Director of Arrowpoint Resort, Captain Gerry Gouveia, has responded to the call by Director General of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) in the Ministry of Public Works, Mrs. Claudette Rogers, for a new multi-stakeholder strategy for maritime law enforcement. In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, he pledged his company’s full support in partnering for the implementation of the laws in all rivers and creeks countrywide.
Gouveia, who owns a tourist resort along a creek in upper Demerara River, told this newspaper that there is a lot of movement on the waterway in this area, and the varying sizes of traversing craft require some kind of regulation.
Noting that there are also very small boats plying the route, he said their safety is very important as well.
“We cannot sit and wait for another accident on our waterways to occur and then run to investigate when there is no system etc in place regarding their use,” Gouveia said.
He explained that his company will be assisting in the dissemination of the maritime advisory to all boat users in the Arrowpoint area and, thereafter, would be putting in place a monitoring group, together with MARAD.
Earlier in the week, Rogers had indicated that MARAD would be involved in a multi-stakeholders’ plan to implement the maritime laws and use of local waterways, with a view to promoting safety and certifying operators.
MARAD does not have enough resources to administer its responsibilities and has sought additional assistance.