Dear Editor,
I stood at the corner of the main street in New Amsterdam for about 2 minutes before I finally got a chance to cross to the other side. This is the common experience one would face on that main thoroughfare on any given workday.
The fact is that, from being a sleepy old town, New Amsterdam has been transformed into a bustling throughway. Our streets have become crowded because more individuals are clearly owners of vehicles. This, in my view, means that more and more persons have disposable incomes to be spent as they wish. The Opposition would strongly disagree; however, the glaring proof is there for all to see.
Now, in a related discussion, this is the proposal that APNU had dogmatically put forward to the Government: that the Berbice Bridge be built across the river at Kortberaadt, the logic behind this proposal being that Kortberaadt is a stronghold of theirs, and Government owes them the right to have the bridge built there. APNU never gave careful thought to the fact that it would have been a more costly venture if the bridge had been built at that East Bank crossing instead of at the Palmyra juncture where it is currently situated. Their concern was the political advantage it would have given them, and nothing else. In addition, there would have been a huge bottleneck when the traffic got into New Amsterdam.
Here is where the myopic economic values of the PNC stand in direct contrast to those of the PPP/C.
Speeding and the attitude of drivers is my next topic. The “no vehicle should be in front of me syndrome” is another matter of grave concern to all Guyanese. In this regard, I make mention of hire car HB 5891 on which I made a speeding trip from New Amsterdam to Georgetown. I called on the driver to reduce his speed, but he paid me no mind and kept on speeding throughout the journey. This is the kind of foolishness passengers have to put up with daily.
The unofficial fare being charged for a trip between New Amsterdam and Georgetown is now $2,500, and this amount is dependent on the vagaries of the driver, who often adjusts the fare upwards as his economic vista widens. Prices for gas and vehicle parts remain stable, yet we see constant hikes in the fare structure. Maybe drivers believe Berbicians are wealthy and can pay whatever is demanded.
Then there is the doubling of fares for commuters travelling in public transportation from as early as 9.00pm – the time when touts run rampant. Raising prices at will becomes burdensome for passengers, especially so for late-night nurses and security workers; hence there is an appeal for Government-owned public transport to return to serve the public.
I am of the firm view that were we to return to the days of the TATA bus — the sooner the better — the negative effects of price-gouging would be reduced, and death would be kept off our roads.
Yes, it’s all happening right here in a beautiful place called Guyana.
Respectfully,
Neil Adams
