– but boat operators continue to flout regulations

THE Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) last week reached out to offer assistance to close relatives of persons who have perished in boat accidents.
On January 10, Director General of MARAD, Claudette Rogers, made tangible gestures of assistance to the wives, mothers, son and father of some of those who perished on the waterways last year.
Nine hampers were distributed and these were given to relatives of Deon Moses, Adrian Glasgow, Jewan Seeram, Kevon Ambrose, Captain Dale Duggin, Zahir Baksh, Keanu Amsterdam, Ulric Grimes and Donna Rampersaud.
Deon Moses, 33, of Norton Street, Wortmanville died in a boat collision on the Mazaruni River in January 2013; Adrian Glasgow, 24, of Industry, East Coast Demerara died in September on the Essequibo River while operating a boat although he was not licensed; Jewan Seeram, 52, of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo perished on the Mazaruni River in January 2013, while Kevon Ambrose, 25, of Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo also perished in the same Mazaruni boat accident; Captain Dale Duggin, 28, of Paripi, Upper Demerara River died in November following a boat collision; while Zahir Baksh, 34, Keanu Amsterdam, 17, and Ulric Grimes, 39, also perished during the January 2013 boat accident in the Mazaruni. Donna Rampersaud was also killed last year in a boat accident in the Essequibo River.
MARAD said that for the year 2013, seven persons perished as a result of boat accidents and the body is continuing its efforts to curb these occurrences.
At the moment, MARAD has embarked on a countrywide campaign with lifejackets being distributed, while several educational and awareness campaigns have been ongoing across the country. The department also has a variety of commercials running on radio and television.

FLOUTING REGULATIONS
However, despite the efforts of the department, there are still boat captains and bowmen who overload vessels and encourage passengers to travel without wearing lifejackets.
It was noted also that some boat operators leave the stellings with the stipulated number of passengers, but along the way they stop to pick up other persons along the creeks and islands, especially in the Mazaruni and Essequibo Rivers.