[www.inewsguyana.com] – Three hundred and eighty two passengers capitalized on the river taxi service plying the New Amsterdam/Rosginol stellings’ route – an initiative implemented by the government in an effort to ease the financial burden of citizens crossing the Berbice River Bridge.
iNews understands that the taxis commenced operation on September 21 from 6 am and ended at 6 pm. According to a release from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, passengers of the taxis included 269 adults and 66 school children and pensioners.
In addition, 47 students used the school contract scheme, which is an arrangement with Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) that allowed students in the past to purchase a card for $200, valid for a month, to travel on a barge.
A one-way trip from New Amsterdam to Rosignol takes about 10 to 12 minutes and costs $120. That same trip over the bridge takes at least eight minutes and costs $300. However, the service is available to toddlers, school aged children up to the secondary level and pensioners free of cost.
Two taxis, which accommodate 33 passengers each, will be operating the route on a one month trial basis. As the demand increases, additional water taxis will be introduced.
Meanwhile, subject Minister David Patterson says he is pleased that there were no hiccups.
“From all reports, it has been a good first day,” he stated. The Minister is also advocating for community involvement.
“When my colleague Minister Annette [Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry] and I met the four Chambers recently, they were informed that when this initiative picks up individuals in Regions 5 and 6 will have the opportunity to offer the service. We firmly believe in community engagement.”
According to the release, financially, the introduction of the water taxis is touted by passengers as “a great idea.”
Shoundell Benjamin of Ithaca, a village along West Bank Berbice, was heading over to Rosignol to catch a minibus to head home.
“I really appreciated the move because if I had to go over the Bridge, my return fare would have been between $800 and $1,000. Do you know how much I will be paying today overall? $440….that’s right, half of what I would have paid,” Benjamin revealed.
A Bath Settlement resident, Kemo Ramdehall, echoed similar sentiments. He is a student at the University of Guyana, Tain Campus.
This morning, he parked his vehicle at the Rosignol Stelling, used the water taxi, and hopped into a minibus to Tain. The cost of his trip back and forth totaled $640.
“Prior to this morning, I would have had to spend $2,200 to cross the bridge, plus gas. Today, I spent $240 on the water taxi and $400 to and from Tain campus,” the young man pointed out.
Likewise, Vanessa Gangoo and Latchman Linder, who were awaiting the taxi service from Rosignol Stelling were grateful for the new dispensation.
Ms. Gangoo admitted that she was excited about the service and revealed she was going to NA for a little shopping. “A friend told me that it was a great experience.”
When asked about the financial aspect of the service, the Rosginol resident stated, “Well I would have had to pay $600 but now all I am paying is $240 return.”
Mr. Linder, who was accompanying relatives to the New Amsterdam Hospital, added the water taxi service will allow him to spend the “extra money elsewhere.”
I feel very sorry for those who are in sorrow because the government is doing a great job, in life if you can’t beat them JOIN Them,west dam lead the way,,,the RACE is over Guyanese got the checkered flag,
MAXXFAX you are only asking for Guyanese to unite simply because the President is Afro Guyanese. Under the PPP/C this call never came from bloggers like you.
Its a pity some people just don’t get it,PROGRESS DEVELOPMENT and a UNITED Guyanese people is the way FORWARD, stop your last lick spoil child acting and work together and erase the NEGATIVE way of life.GUYANESE UNITE,
Sour Grapes and tunnel vision!!!
Let the people choose, that is good,
Illiteracy is of even greater concern that the opening hours for 7-11 and the convenience of river taxis. In view of the preceding, I strongly recommend you take the bridge after work hours and attend night school; so severe is the damage you do to the English Language. In the meanwhile, extract your head from the dirty hole in which you have got it trapped.
Taxis commenced operation on September 21 from 6 am and ended at 6 pm.
On the bridge they can cross 25 hours a day.
There are a bunch of PNC supporters whom are willing to be handed all things free since they Papa Forbes promised feed housed clothes nation.
7-11 opens 24 hours per day. When other places are closed after business yo want stuff you go 7-11 you pay the price or you wait until other business opens again. Who wants to cross on that stupid stale ferry? It’s outdated. The bridge did the ones in that operates the ferry system. They are the ones crying most their shake down business to cross went down the drain. You pay them a bribe you cross now you don’t pay them a bribe you cross tomorrow whenever.