CHAOS erupted at the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) stelling yesterday as the wharf steps collapsed, forcing commuters to disembark vessels from makeshift precariously placed steel ladder.

It was utter confusion and as the speedboat passengers who crossed the Demerara River by speedboats from Vreed-en-Hoop arrived to find that several treaders that facilitated their exit from the boats had fallen into the water.

As a result, officials there were forced to make an alternative route by which the passengers could exit vessels by climbing up a steel ladder. It led to confusion and cries of protest as overweight and pregnant women as well as elderly men refused to climb the ladder for fear of injury or falling into the river.
The steel ladder was dangling a few feet above water level but there were men helping passengers by almost pulling them up the slippery ladder.
In the area where the steps had collapsed, an alternate and very shaky step was being used and it greatly slowed the speedboat traffic and resulted in a huge build-up of protesting passengers fretting loudly at the lengthy delay.
Many feared they would lose their jobs while others were complaining about being extremely late for crucial appointments and yet more claimed to have missed very important job interviews.
The spectacle was very disappointing as it presented a scene of several speedboats just idling on some huge waves, passengers shouting atop of their voices, boat captains using obscenities and extremely large crowds converging on the pier as they too were compelled to wait for boats going to their West Demerara locations.
While officials at the T&HD were tight-lipped about what caused the steps to collapse, at least two eyewitnesses said the treaders were jolted from the main frame when a speedboat hit them a little too hard as it attempted to moor alongside.

VERY ANGRY
Vendors plying their trade on the stelling were very angry in expressing their disappointment about the condition of the entire structure although only the steps area was damaged.
Vegetables seller Sattie Singh felt that the authorities were too laid back and have been allowing the facility to disintegrate with no regard for the safety of persons who use it to facilitate transport.
“This is really terrible and I don’t know what is really going on. Look at the state of this stelling and it has been like this for several years now. Nobody ain’t making an effort to do repairs at all. The steps that the speedboat passengers are using shaking like hell and is only time before both steps fall into the water.”
School teacher Iris Grant, who had to wait aboard a speedboat she had boarded, was fuming with anger and minced no words as she aired her disgust over the condition of the wharf and stelling.
“This is blasted nonsense! Those in higher authorities just sit around filling their pockets instead of concerning themselves with matters that are related to the safety of citizens. It’s not the steps of this stelling that needs repairs, it’s the entire wharf! This whole structure is deteriorating and everyone just sits around doing nothing about it.
“And they would come with their normal flimsy excuses when the whole thing goes under water and hundreds of lives are lost. This is a matter of great urgency and it really beats me why the authorities are just sitting on their fat asses and doing nothing. Don’t worry with them, too late shall be the cry,” she declared.
Taxi drivers operating just outside the stelling were loud in protesting the state of the wharf, each opining in one way or another that repairs to the structure are long overdue.
However, while most of them shunned media approaches with echoes of “Not me, me ain’t talking to no media,”Michael Forde called them foolish and stepped forward to have his say.
“Look boss those in higher authorities or those responsible for the maintenance of this should make its repairs a priority before something even more serious occurs. This structure is really old and I think it should be condemned and have a new one built instead. What are these people waiting for, I have no idea. The place is rotten and shaky and still they would not do anything about it. Is the day when the whole thing cave in and kill people, then yuh gon hear people talking about how sorry they are. They need to repair this facility so as to prevent a major disaster.”
When a few T&HD officials were approached for a comment on the issue yesterday, the reporter was told that they were busy engaging repairs to the steps that had collapsed and could not readily comment.

(By Alex Wayne)