-    Operators complain of danger to elders

Speedboat operators at the Vreed-en-Hoop stelling, have warned of the dangerous conditions there and are calling for remedial action.

According to the operators, elderly persons who use the stelling on a daily basis are experiencing “a hell of a time” to climb the steps.

A 67-year-old woman, Sonita Narine, said that she uses the stelling twice daily. “I am doing domestic work in town so I gotta use the stelling every morning and afternoon but it is hard for me to climb this long, long step especially, at this age.”
She explained that she suffers from back pain and sometimes “I am scared (that I will) fall into the water especially when the rain is falling and the step is wet and slippery.”

These problems were addressed with the then President Bharrat Jagdeo and according to the Vice President of the Demerara Speedboat Association, Lancelot Moseley, he (former President) had talked to the Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, about fixing a floating ramp at the stelling to assist the older folks.
“About 17 months ago, the former president had spoken to the Minister Benn about fixing a floating ramp at the stelling to assist the older folks, but that fall through big time,” Moseley noted.
A floating ramp is a platform supported by a pontoon. These are usually joined to the shore with a slope that rests upon the landing on rollers, to adjust for vertical movement of the dock.
Moseley said after the idea of the floating ramp fell through, the members of the Demerara Speedboat Association decided to discuss with the Minister, placing rails to both sides of the steps and landing to avoid any untoward accident.
“Hundreds of persons have been using this stelling and in the morning when persons have to go to school and work, they tend to be in a rush and because there is no rail, they can easily fall into the muddy waters,” he claimed.
Yesterday, Moseley told Kaieteur News that he has realized that the only way for anyone to get something done is through the intervention of the media.
He explained that members of the Demerara Speedboat Association have been going after the Minister from time to time but they only get “promises”.
Moseley explained that the steps leading from the landing to the boats had been in a dreadful state for years and nothing was being done despite numerous complaints. He added that it was only when this newspaper published the deplorable condition of the steps, then the authorities repaired it.
Several calls to Minister Benn for a comment went unanswered.

Thursday, June 7, 2012