Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Madanlall Ramraj, has reprimanded the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) for failing to consult with truck drivers on new weight restrictions imposed for the Parika and Supenaam Stellings.
Ramraj this morning met with truck drivers and owners in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) following the recent reduction in the allowable tonnage for trucks using the ferry service between the Supenaam and Parika ports.
The reduction comes as a result of the damaged drawbridge at the Supenaam Stelling and ongoing works at the Parika Stelling, where piles are being driven for the new facility and several beams have shifted from the concrete-encased piles.
The allowable weight was reduced to 15 tonnes last Thursday as the Ministry continues to work through these issues and determine the safest way forward.
This comes even as government continues to improve and modernise the safety and security measures associated with the ferry service, ensuring that persons can continue to safely ply their trade.
During the engagement, Minister Ramraj strongly reprimanded the action of the T&HD for failing to consult truck drivers and owners before implementing the decision to reduce the allowable weight to 15 tonnes.
He described the manner in which the implementation was handled as “totally unacceptable.”
The Minister reminded the residents of government’s committed to full transparency, adding that persons whose businesses and daily operations depend on the ferry service must be informed in a timely manner of any decision that would affect them. He stressed that implementing decisions of this nature cannot be made without proper consultation with the people who will be directly impacted.
The drawbridge at the Supenaam Stelling has since been replaced, while the T&HD is currently working on a solution to address the issue at the Parika Stelling. The aim is to have the necessary works completed so that the normal allowable tonnage can be restored at both ports as soon as it is safe to do so.
Minister Ramraj also spoke with the truck drivers and owners on possible measures to help mitigate the impact of the reduction. He noted that the Ministry is currently working with its engineers and consultants to develop a suitable solution and determine the fastest, most sustainable and safest way forward.
Last month, the T&HD had announced that only vehicles with a maximum gross weight of 20-tonnes will be allowed on the Parika/Supenaam service. This was later revised to 18-tonnes.
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