Residents and boat operators in the Pomeroon River, Region Two, are calling on Government to hold further talks before introducing measures that will mandate all vessels and its captains to be licenced.Government had moved to clampdown on river lawlessness following a number of deadly accidents. In December last year, a collision between a vessel carrying officials of the Region Two administration and another passenger vessel resulted in six persons being killed. In January, 11 persons were killed in another accident in the Mazaruni.Operations at Charity, Pomeroon River yesterday.Inadequate safety equipment,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, carelessness and speed were blamed in the incidents.An under-pressure Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) immediately announced plans to train more inspectors and launched a licencing campaign.Earlier this week, MARAD officers,NFL Jerseys Cheap, as part of its campaign, descended on the Pomeroon River, a key waterway that leads to Region One and several Amerindian communities in the Region Two area. The communities included Wakapau,Cheap Jerseys From China, Akawini, Kabakaburi and St. Monica.Several passengers’ vessels were found to be without documents and were ordered to be tied up.With boats being the main means of transportation, the situation has to be tackled in a more comprehensive manner, says Howard Cornelius, a spokesman for passengers’ vessels that ply the Pomeroon River route.With many families owning engines and boats,Carlos Santana Indians Jersey, the costs to regularize the situation would be in excess of $60,000 annually, Cornelius told Kaieteur News. Around $20,000 is needed for a captain’s licence while another $32,000 is required for the actual boat licence.Many families would be hard-pressed to meet these fees.“We have met as concerned boat operators who ply the Pomeroon River. We understand the measures that Government is trying to do. We want to meet either with the President or somebody to discuss this issue.”Several boat owners met this week at Charity, Region Two, where they would drop off their passengers and produce from the many farms that litter the Pomeroon River.Among some of the issues raised was that the Pomeroon River is not a port area,NFL Jerseys Sale, with many families despite owning a boat and engine,Wholesale China Jerseys, barely managing to eke out a living.While there is a grace period for families with engines below 15 horsepower, the reality is that the majority of families will have to park their vessels if the licencing system is implemented without some kind of time extension.Cornelius estimates several hundred boats operate the Pomeroon River daily.There are about 30 vessels operating as passengers’ vessels from Charity.With the river serving as a gateway to the Essequibo coast, situations like medical emergencies, NIS and even the costs to school children will be severely affected.Yesterday, a MARAD official noted that there was widespread worry over the operations of vessels in the waterways.Many of the vessels are unlicenced, with even children found to be operating them. Many of them are also without life jackets, a major requirement.A meeting is planned for Monday at 09:00hrs at the Farmers’ Wharf, Charity, for the boat operators and others to discuss the way forward.