Ramshackle stairs endanger commuters at Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling

The dilapidated structure of the Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling, West Coast Demerara (WCD), came under criticism on Monday morning after an elderly woman lost her balance and almost fell into the Demerara River.

The situation escalated since there were no railings for support, coupled with unsteady stairs.
It is customary for everyday commuters to lament about the structure, which is highly unsafe for young children and the elderly. However, the incident saw many persons fuming over the unsafe structure, which could contribute to bigger problems.
The stelling, made primarily of timber, is equipped with two stairwells – one which extends to speedboats that are loading while the other facilitates boats to offload passengers.
One commuter, who gave his name as Ravi, said he travels four days a week to attend university. The young man said traversing the stelling at night is extremely difficult. Adding to that, many persons find it difficult to walk on the stairway at night because of poor lighting.
“Well, I travel in the morning and then back in the afternoon…four days every week. If classes run late, then I take the boat in the night, like 7:30 or so. The place is dark that time because there isn’t much light out here. Sometimes I can’t see where I’m stepping and if I’m close to the edge cause there isn’t any railing at the side. If someone pushes you by mistake, then you end up in the river,” the student explained.
He added, “Some nights the water is rough and the boat would keep moving around. It is not safe for old people to cross or people with children.”
Other persons were heard squabbling about the state of affairs as they exited and entered the water taxis.
One woman briefly shared, “I think this is completely unacceptable…We don’t need anything fancy, just something safe for people”.
The Public Infrastructure Ministry had announced an overhaul of the structure, which is in dire need of a facelift but no major repairs are forthcoming. This newspaper was told that earlier this year, a few planks were changed during the rainy season. At that time, commuters were under the impression that the much-needed rehabilitation was underway. However, only the fragmented segments were changed to prevent any accidents.
Meanwhile, taxi drivers and other vendors have long complained about the other sections, which are in an even worse state. When it rains, the roof leaks at numerous spots, damaging clothing, shoes and other products. Additionally, petty crimes have escalated due to minimal security at night.
Over at Stabroek, there was some degree of support in the form of railings for persons to navigate their way to and from the boats. Just a few weeks ago, however, a few planks had to be changed immediately after collapsing. The aged railings also buckled and fell apart during that time.
The Transport and Harbour Department (T&HD) collects a daily fee from boat operators, and many feel this should be used towards maintenance.