…speedboat operators turn to MoPI for intervention

AFTER more than four years of waiting for an approval from the Boat Association to work the Parika-Supenaam and Parika – turn route system, three speedboat operators asked Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jaipaul Sharma, to intervene.

Roger Anderson, a captain and speedboat operator for 12 years; Curtley Charles, a captain and speedboat operator for 13 years; and Mark Smith, a boat captain for over three years, met with Minister Sharma recently to express their frustration, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure said in a statement on Thursday.

During the meeting, the operators indicated that they had written the association almost four years ago but never received a response. Due to the extensive delays in the processing of applications, the operators proposed that the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) take up the responsibility of approving boat owners to be a part of the Turn System.

Additionally, they suggested that MARAD representative(s) be present at the stellings on a daily basis to observe the operations of the Boat Associations procedures.

It was noted that members of the association, particularly those who operate multiple boats, are given priority in the turn system and as a result, leave little or no opportunity for non-members to get a turn to be given a space on the stelling. According to the gentlemen, this is unfair and it interferes with their livelihood on a day-to-day basis.

In response, Minister Sharma said MARAD will be asked to conduct an assessment on the availability of space in the boat system to determine whether or not more boats can be added to the system.

“As the operators shared their plights with the minister, it was stated by the operators that they all have loans (mortgages) to facilitate the construction of their own boats and it is therefore imperative that they be included in the system.

According to the operators, if they do not get a special to work, they are still required to pay mooring fee which is five thousand dollars a week, a watchman fee which amounts to seven thousand dollars and a cleaning fee for the boat which amounts to five thousand. Hence, they are losing financing on a daily basis,” the ministry said.

According to MARAD’s General Manager, Claudette Rogers, it is important that the operators receive a “no objections” letter from the association, before MARAD can give the operators the approval to be included in the system.