–almost costs elderly woman her life

Dear Editor
I HAVE no communication with the Honourable Minister of Public Infrastructure, hence I am requesting a space in your newspaper to relate an unfortunate situation that almost cost my grandmother her life.

On November 16, 2016, I, my mother, and grandmother, who is 74 years old, reached Parika around 13:00 hrs, and were told that the Aditya Boat Service was loading. We went into the boat and waited for almost two hours for it to be filled. When the boat was filled, it left Parika, but instead of heading to Eastern Wakenaam, the captain went all the way around the island to the Transport and Harbours Stelling located at Sans Souci. We spent close to 35 minutes in the rough river, which we never expected.
When we reached the Wakenaam Public Stelling at Sans Souci on the south-western side of the island, to my surprise, there was no ramp for us to disembark.
I am 35 years old; weigh 120lbs;, and had to open my feet to almost 70 degrees to disembark the boat. I immediately began to quarrel, because I was upset to know that my life was not treated with consideration by the Aditya Boat Service.
Notwithstanding the above, I felt the pain my 74-year-old grandmother went through to disembark that boat. She literally had to crawl like a caterpillar, with the help of six other passengers.
Editor, it hurts! It does! Words cannot begin to express how hurt I am. After this situation, I would never ever return to Guyana; and my grandmother holds the same view.
Considering the above, permit me to ask Minister David Patterson the following questions:
1. Why was the boat allowed to travel from Parika to south-western Wakenaam when it is licensed to travel from Parika to Eastern Wakenaam?
2. Why are passengers not allowed their democratic right to travel freely with whichever service they choose?
3. What are the factors that were considered to implement a system that once failed?

In closing, I call on all the departments that have caused this trouble to fix it. To my islanders, if it is not fixed, then I am just sorry for you.

Yours faithfully,
OVERSEAS-BASED GUYANESE WHO WOULD NOT COME BACK