RESIDENTS of Wakenaam are now benefitting from improved ferry service following a return visit to the island by Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson.Minister Ferguson paid the visit on Friday, a week after she had made an initial trip to the island. During the first visit, she visited several sites on Wakenaam and interacted with both officials and residents.
Residents were particularly vocal about what they deemed substandard service at the Wakenaam stelling.
Following these concerns, Ferguson indicated to the residents that she would return to the island shortly, along with officials from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. She delivered on this promise last Friday and was accompanied by officials, including the General Manager of the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) Marcelene Merchant and T&HD Traffic Manager Stephan Skekel. The meeting took place at the Wakenaam stelling.
During the meeting, residents again emphasised that there was need to put a proper system in place to ensure a better service. They highlighted issues and problems they had experienced as recently as last week. Among the complaints were erratic service, long waiting time and unprofessional behaviour on the part of T&HD staff.
“It’s not fair for us to sit on a ferry for hours and this is happening very often,” a resident said.
The man, a driver by profession, further said that he has eased up working due to the ongoing situation. However, he emphasised that he has no other job.
“Nobody wants to turn up and hear the time change or the boat ain’t coming,” another resident chimed in.
Others complained that using speedboats as an alternative was too expensive, even for those with small families.
Several residents then provided suggestions on how the situation could be rectified, indicating that if a fixed schedule is in place, regardless of the time, they would make themselves available.
These suggestions were noted by Minister Ferguson and the officials and after brief discussions, a solution was put forward. The minister said that an extra day, Monday, would be added to the ferry service to Wakenaam.
Moreover, it was agreed upon that the ferry would go directly from Wakenaam to Parika rather than make a stop at the island of Leguan. This, it was agreed, would save much time for the residents of Wakenaam.
Furthermore, Ferguson indicated that T&HD General Manager Merchant would speak with the technical persons to determine how to cut the travel time. She said too that the professionalism of T&HD employees would come under scrutiny.
“If employees of T&HD cannot adhere to what they are supposed to do, then somebody will have to feel the brunt of it,” Ferguson said, adding that those who do poor jobs will be disciplined.