Water taxis flagged for non-compliance with maritime laws

– operators urged to register vessels, become licensed

Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), with support from the Guyana Coast Guard, on Thursday carried out an exercise along the Essequibo and Mazaruni Rivers where boat operators, captains, bowmen and owners were stopped and checked for documentation.
The exercise, MARAD assured, was not meant to penalise anyone, instead, it was a compliance survey.
As vessels were stopped during transit on the rivers, the team conducted quick inspections for life vests, boat registration or licences, captain licences, bowman badges and worthiness of the vessels, and what was unearthed were many cases of non-compliance with the Maritime Law.
Defaulting operators were advised that operating vessels without the requisite compliance is in fact a breach of the Maritime Law, which must be adhered to at all times, and errant and non-compliant operators will be fined and prosecuted accordingly.
The joint activity included the Registrar of Ships (MARAD), Gale Culley-Greene, Deputy River Navigation Officer (MARAD), Deighton Melville and Inspector (MARAD) Brian Dey along with Coast Guard Officers under the command of Senior Petty Officer Orlando Barkie.
Meanwhile, during the Bartica visit, Director of Maritime Safety, Captain Courtney McDonald and Safety Clerk Quaislyn David took the opportunity to conduct a training exercise for individuals who were desirous of obtaining a bowman or bow woman’s badge, a river navigation licence, a boat master grade 3 licence (speedboat) or a certificate of competency.

This initiative of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) will continue throughout the country, especially in riverine areas with a school population. Parents and community leaders are also advised to reach out to MARAD if they have any questions or queries on marine safety regulations.
Back in October, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill met with water taxi operators and urged them to comply with the safety regulations set out by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD).
“One of the interventions that we thought we could make is that MARAD, from its own resources, demonstrate to the public the seriousness of what we believe and what we implement as it relates to safety, by the distribution of safety vests to operators,” the Minister has indicated.
Edghill told the operators that severe action to reduce the number of casualties due to the recklessness of some persons would harm all boat operators, including those complying with the law.
As such, he urged them to work with MARAD and the Ministry of Public Works to ensure a robust system where people would have confidence.
The Public Works Minister advised operators to put more emphasis on enhancing their service, especially considering the recent growth in the tourism sector, which feeds into water taxi operations.