EVEN though Guyana continues the fight against the deadly COVID-19 outbreak, a few boat operators who ply the Georgetown to Vreed-en-Hoop route have not been implementing the precautionary measures set out by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH).

During a visit to the Stabroek Market Stelling on Thursday morning, Guyana Chronicle observed some boat operators were taking very little measures to protect themselves and commuters who travel with them on a daily basis.

Andy Moffett, a boat operator who plies the Georgetown to Vreed-en-Hoop route, when asked how often he cleans the life jackets on his boat said, “I does clean the boat every trip but I does clean the life jacket every two weeks.”

On the other hand, Moffett stated that, in the coming week, he will decrease the number of passengers he takes per trip.

“Right now I taking like 33 passengers per trip but from next week I’ll be taking like 23 only so that passengers will be spaced out like arm’s length.”

Another boat operator, Davendra Ramnauth, said that since the outbreak of COVID-19, he has decreased the numberof passengers he takes per trip.

“For now, we using lil Fabuloso but from next week we gone sanitise the boat and thing but right now we carrying a small amount of passengers so you know everybody not gone deh crowd up next to each other.”

Meanwhile, another boat operator who gave his name as “Luknauth” revealed that he has not yet adopted the social distancing rule; however, in the coming week, he will decrease the number of passengers he takes per trip.

He said he cleans his boat and life jackets every trip to protect himself and those who travel with him.

“We carrying the full load for now but, from Monday, we gone fetch less people; but for now I got some things I does rub my hand up with you know, my lil hand sanitizer and so. I got some bleach and so that I does wipe out the boat every trip I take. Also I does wipe up the life jacket every trip you know wipe down the neck and so,” said Luknauth.