PERSONS, who will be directly affected by the upgrade of the Parika Stelling, were consulted by officials attached to the Central Transport and Planning Unit (CTPU) of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

According to a press statement from the ministry, the first, in a series of consultations, were held with residents, minibus operators, water taxi operators, vendors and other persons, on Tuesday.

The topics discussed were related to the planned upgrade of the Parika Stelling to a modern facility, befitting of Guyana’s new age of development. The consultation session was conducted at the Parika Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), where stakeholders were updated on various aspects of the planning and construction phases of the project.
The Ministry’s Chief Transport Planning Officer, Patrick Thompson, said, Parika serves as the main transport hub to Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Bartica, the islands of the Essequibo River and other areas of the country. The transformation of the stelling is timely and will support the major transport activities and commercial transactions that take place at Parika every day.

Over time, the Parika Stelling has become noticeably deteriorated and congested, giving rise to safety and other environmental concerns, which the project will seek to address in a most holistic way and in line with the developmental plan for the local transport sector. A resident of Parika, Ahmad Salim, said he welcomes the upgrade because he has been living in that community for the past 25 years and saw no major progress in this regard.
One vendor, who did not state her name, inquired about where the Vendors would be placed during the construction of the Stelling. She was told that access to the stelling, through the Parika Market, will be incorporated into the design of the project so that vendors can benefit from the patronage of the persons accessing the water taxis and ferries. Another vendor, Andrew (only name given), said he was especially concerned about the project’s fruition, since, for the past 30 years, he has been a vendor and only promises have been made for upgrades.

President of the United Minibus Union, Eon Andrews, was also at the meeting and he said the union is committed to making the project work, especially since it will have an impact on the minibus park at Parika. In May 2018, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, had announced that the Parika Stelling will be equipped with modernised features as part of an upgrade. Patterson had said a US$15M loan was secured from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to cater for the upgrade.

“We will rehabilitate the Parika Stelling completely, with similar features to that of the Bartica Stelling. It will have commercial space, a shed so that persons can go there and sell their produce, persons can also open a restaurant or two. It just wouldn’t have the opening that the Bartica Stelling has,” Minister Patterson explained. Residents of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), particularly those who utilise the stelling on a regular basis, have expressed elation and anticipation for the upgrade of the facility, which they hope will result in economic transformation. “The current stelling is serving its purpose but not to the level we expect, especially because of the increase in traffic…there was definitely a need for a bigger stelling which will cater for the increased traffic which will arise from the budding oil and gas sector.

“We are the gateway to the Essequibo and from the Essequibo to Georgetown…everybody will travel through more conveniently…businesses will explore the possibilities of opening branches and there will be better access,” said Regional Information Officer of Region Three, Ganesh Mahipaul in a recent report. The modern facility will encourage persons to travel more, since there will be better accommodation for vehicles, boats and even commuters, said Mahipaul. The new facility will also aid the region in the area of tourism because it will be a state-of-the-art stelling, which will cater for more than just transiting boats and vehicles.

He said government’s intention was not only to improve transportation for passengers and vehicular traffic but also to create recreational spaces for relaxation and interaction. With the improved facility and services, Mahipaul believes that the region will become the most important economic hub in the country.