Black Immigrant Daily News

…similar payment system touted for Suriname route by January

After decades of operating with in-person booking for ferries, commuters for the first time will be able to secure their spot using an online booking system.

“Ferry Pass” was launched on Saturday at the Parika Stelling and will be running concurrently with current operations to make bookings easier.

Phase One of this initiative includes only the route between Parika and Supenaam, with MMG offering the payment solution. Online reservations will get first preference against those who prefer the in-person ticketing system.

The platform can support other routes but this pilot will monitor operations and usage. Phase Two will entail other payment options and provisions for differently-abled persons.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill dubbed this introduction a big difference in the lives of people using the ferry service, with reduced loss of time since patrons can bypass having to show up hours before to secure a spot.

(L-R) General Manager of T&HD Marcelene Merchant, Public Works Ministers Juan Edghill and Deodat Indar, and General Manager of GTT – MMG Bobita Ram at Saturday’s launch

“A system that is transparent, accountable, accessible, where it’s not left to the discretion of an individual at any level, but is one that is open to the entire public makes travelling easier and more comfortable and saving lots and lots of time. And that is what Ferry Pass will do…This is making life easy for everybody. And it is making the system one that is fair and predictable,” Edghill underscored.

The Minister added that there have been complaints of persons abusing the system, leaving others disenfranchised. This new addition, he related, is an avenue to stop corruption.

“We have to stop the corruption. We have to stop the occasion for corruption. Oftentimes, the people who complain about the corruption are the people who participate in the corruption or when you do work for them. That’s when they complain.”

By December 1, this mechanism will be available for the Supenaam to Bartica route. Later in Jan 2023, online booking for Leguan, Wakenaam, Mabaruma, Port Kaituma and Morawhanna and Fort Island will come on steam.

The Minister also added that by Jan 2023, online booking for the MV Canawaima, which plies the Guyana to Suriname Route, should be achieved.

“We must work with our Surinamese counterpart and we must put online booking for the MV Canawaima by January 1, 2023. We must get it done. It is the same form and that is the direction we’re going, so people don’t have to drive all the way to Moleson Creek, sleep in a car waiting to get on. If we did it at Supenaam-Parika, we can do it anywhere else,” the Minister told stakeholders.

Meanwhile, General Manager at MMG, Bobita Ram shared that the Guyanese public should look forward to more technological changes to bring comfort and ease while accessing services. To date, MMG has over 100,000 users.

“When we were invited to collaborate with Transport [and] Harbours Department on creation of Ferry Pass, we immediately saw the many benefits such an initiative would bring the commuters, first of all by saving time, easing the stress of wondering whether or not their vehicle would make it on the ferry and enhancing accountability overall.”

She added, “More initiatives driven by technology and the desire to bring ease and convenience to everyday lives. Let me stress on the words ease and convenience, since these are the pillars on which MMG services are delivered since our launch nine years ago, and since then, has radically transformed the payment landscape of Guyana.”

According to her, other Government agencies that require in-person payments should consider other technological and cashless platforms.

Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar underscored under the Transport and Harbours Department, infrastructure has been under the microscope to ensure a smooth flow. He shared that persons can be frustrated with the current system, and it can sometimes disadvantage commuters. Even with this system, Indar said, monitoring is present for a fair process.

“It will have to be managed properly. Because if you have a parallel system working, which we’re doing now, is to have an online booking system with a manual one just to make sure there is no failure in the holes of the whole transport system. People booking sometime can frustrate people too. So, we are asking people when to the online booking, do it honestly,” Indar reassured.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

There are now two tropical disturbances being monitored by the US National Hurricane Center (US NHC), with a tropical wave located east of the Windward islands.

The NHC in its 8 am update on Sunday said shower and thunderstorm activity associated with a tropical wave located several hundred miles east of the Windward Islands has increased over the past day or so.

It said some gradual development of the wave is possible during the next few days while it moves generally westward at 15 to 20 mph.

The disturbance has a (low) 10 per cent chance of formation through the next 48 hours and a (low) 20 per cent chance of formation through the next five days.

Several Caribbean islands are already keeping close watch over this disturbance.

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Meteorological Services in its last 72-hour weather outlook said on Sunday, warm conditions are anticipated but by nightfall a tropical wave inches closer to the islands. This wave is expected to affect SVG by mid-Monday.

Meanwhile, The Disaster Management Coordination Agency, (DMCA) in Montserrat said it is closely monitoring Tropical Disturbance 2 (Yellow) several hundred miles east of the Windward Islands with a Low Chance of development over the next five days as it tracks westward.

It noted at this time, the system is not a threat to Montserrat, and there are no watches or warnings issued for the island. However, the DMCA is encouraging residents and visitors to continue to monitor the DMCA and be prepared.

Dominica’s Meteorological Services in its 6 am Forecast on Sunday said unstable mid to upper-level conditions maintained by a trough system and lingering moisture are expected to support a few periods of cloudiness, showers and possible isolated thunderstorms across the area, during the next 24 hours. Thereafter, from Monday and into Tuesday, the passage of a tropical wave is projected to further increase the chance of showers and thunderstorm activity over the island. Slight to moderate seas are anticipated during the next 24 to 48 hours with waves peaking to 5.0ft along the eastern coast.

Meanwhile, in the Eastern Tropical Atlantic, a tropical wave located several hundred miles south of the Cabo Verde Islands continues to produce disorganised showers and thunderstorms.

Environmental conditions are forecast to be favourable for some gradual development during the next several days.

Therefore, a tropical depression is likely to form during the early or middle part of next week while the system moves westward, then turns northwestward or northward toward the end of the week over the eastern tropical Atlantic.

Disturbance one has a (low) 30 per cent chance of formation through the next 48 hours and a (high) 70 per cent chance of formation through the next five days.

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