Georgetown : The Private Sector Commission of Guyana (PSC) has pledged its support for the Government Water Taxi Initiative, which commenced today September 21, 2015, across the Berbice River.
PSC Chairman, Major General (Ret’d.) Norman McLean, recently communicated this message to the people of Region Six. McLean was at the time delivering remarks at the opening of the 11th Annual Berbice Exposition and Trade Fair held at the Albion Community Centre Ground, Corentyne, Berbice.
“On the river taxi, the PSC has come out supporting this initiative. Nothing is wrong with that in my view. The Demerara Harbour Bridge is 40 years old and we have had ferries crossing from Vreed-en-Hoop to Stabroek, back and forth every day, and there is absolutely no reason why we can’t have ferries between Rosignol and New Amsterdam,” McLean said. He has however, emphasized the need for all safety measures to be first put in place for travellers.
Also, during his remarks at the opening of the Expo, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, had informed Berbicians that from Sept 21, 2015, all nurses, pensioners, and school children crossing the Berbice River would not have to pay to use the water taxis provided by the Government.
This service would be free for one month to bring relief to the poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the Berbice Community.
“We do this for a month to reinforce our message to the Berbice Bridge Company that the present fare is unconscionable and unpayable, and they must reduce it, and we will not give up until the fares are reduced. We count on the support of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, the Private Sector Commission and others, to understand that there is a public policy regarding the reduction of these fares,” the Prime Minister had stated.
This initiative was introduced by Government, to aid the travelling public of the Berbice region in light of the refusal of the Berbice Bridge Company to reduce the fares for commuters.
