Blacklisted truck driver Mahendra Persaud can once again use the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) ferry service. But he was slapped with a fine and forced to hand in a written apology to officials over his involvement in an April 4 protest over the irregular service on the Wakenaam to Parika route.T&HD General Manager Marclene Merchant confirmed to Kaieteur News that the ban had been lifted and that Persaud had presented a written apology and paid a $20,000 fine to the Department.Asked why Persaud was singled out despite his not being the sole protestor, Ms. Merchant explained that he was the only one who had blocked the boarding area, thus preventing other vehicles from entering the ferry.The official said that to her knowledge, this is the first time that such an incident has occurred.Persaud told Kaieteur News yesterday that he handed in his apology on Monday at the Battery Road, Kingston Head Office and also paid his fine there on Wednesday. He said he was subsequently told that he could travel on the ferries.The Wakenaam resident said officials gave him a statement which claimed that he had delayed the ferry service for two hours after he had blocked other vehicles from boarding the MV Malali.T&HD had blacklisted Persaud after he had joined a number of other truck drivers in a protest at the Wakenaam Stelling. They were voicing their concern that the ferries plying the Wakenaam/Parika route were operating every other day, rather than daily.Persaud had told Kaieteur News that he was at the head of the line and, at the urging of his colleagues, had parked on the ramp,Jerseys NFL China, thus blocking other vehicles from entering the ferry.The driver said that he attempted to board the MV Malali at Parika two days later when a T&HD clerk informed him that he had been banned from travelling on the ferry.At the time, Persaud was preparing to be ferried back home with items that were laden on a Canter truck, which he drives for his grandfather. He said that the items on the truck included perishables.Persaud said he was forced to leave the still-loaded vehicle near the Parika stelling over that weekend. The family eventually hired a boat, reportedly at considerable cost, to take their goods to Wakenaam.
