Making the waters part of his lifestyle

SAMUEL Ramroop, better known as “Sammy”, has other means of earning a living, but he prefers to provide a reliable, safe service to the public via his two speedboats, which ply the Parika to Supenaam route.
The 38-year-old told Pepperpot Magazine that as a young man, he always had an interest in being self-employed and worked towards that life goal. He reported that he comes from a family of farmers. At a young age, he was introduced to farming but also had a great love for working with speedboats, a skill he used to bring in extra income.

Ramroop began working with different speedboat owners on their boats until he got licensed as a speedboat captain. It was after seven years that he was financially able to buy his own speedboats outfitted with engines to ply the Parika/Supenaam route, providing a safe service for passengers.

Ramroop added that it took him many years of working and learning to move from a bowman to a boat captain, but it was worth it because of the experiences and knowledge gained during that time.
The father of one said that hard work and true dedication paid off when he was finally able to acquire his own boats, named Touch and Let Go and Senorita.
The two speedboats are outfitted with 200-horsepower engines, and he has another boat with a 40-horsepower engine, which is only used for farming purposes, such as taking his produce to Parika Stelling to sell to wholesale buyers.

Ramroop stated that he lost his daughter to a road accident in 2021 while she was on her way home from school, and he does not think he can recover from that. Despite such challenges, he has pushed ahead to become the best version of himself in many ways, including becoming a farmer and a full-time speedboat operator who captains his own boat while employing others.

Ramroop is a friendly and kind individual—qualities that help him maintain good relations with passengers while providing efficient service to the travelling public.

“As a boat captain, I take safety seriously because I am responsible for the people travelling on my boats. It is in order with all safety mechanisms in place, including life jackets, which must be worn at all times during the journey. I adhere to all safety measures and stipulations, and I am registered with the Marine Administration Department (MARAD),” he said.

In the span of 20 years, Ramroop has gained much knowledge and has come to love what he does for a living. One of his favourite places to visit is Baganara Resort for the clean environment, which is serene, and for the staff, service, and excellent food. He describes Baganara Resort as one of the best places in Guyana that is ideal for promoting tourism, and he finds it such a lovely place to visit frequently.
Speedboat operation is not an everyday job, as they work in a turn system every five days, so they depend heavily on partnerships with tour providers for charters. Ramroop reported that when he is not doing speedboat operation, he is at his farm at Hogg Island, Essequibo River, tending to crops and marketing his produce.

He added that he is well-versed with the intricate corners of the Essequibo River, as he has been on that river for more than 20 years, and he is also familiar with parts of the Mazaruni River. Ramroop told Pepperpot Magazine that he loves his job as a boat captain, and providing a vital service to the public brings him joy because it gives him the opportunity to meet and interact with people from many places locally and overseas.
He has provided his service to many tour groups at various resorts and other historical sites and places in the Essequibo River, and it is something he can never tire of. Being on the water and manoeuvring the boat gives him the adrenaline rush he craves, and that is the best job satisfaction he needs.

“Being a boat captain is exciting for me because it is something I like, but the best part is having conversations with people,” he said.