After three days of suspension during the passage of Dikeledi, barge crossings between the two lands resumed this morning. A complicated recovery for Petite-Terre users, still subject to the prefectural decree which prevents the circulation of vehicles near the platforms.
The first barge departing from Dzaoudzi was awaited by many users this morning. But the joy of the announcement quickly gave way to the anger of the inhabitants of Petite-Terre who are still subject to the prefectural decree preventing the circulation of cars on the seafront. Result: the inhabitants can only access the barges on foot. This decree, taken by the prefect on January 10, is increasingly annoying users.
Added to this order is the closure of the Issoufali quay on which the Salama 3 barge ran aground. Residents therefore have to go to Quai Ballou on foot, a walk which proves particularly trying for some. The lucky ones board the few taxis authorized to circulate.
This father is tired of this situation, “We're in trouble, we have financial difficulties and we're forced to pay for taxis! I have to barge with my family, so imagine how much I have to pay to barge! It's unacceptable, I don't know why we're closing here ?”.
Traffic between Four-à-Chaux and Quai Ballou nevertheless remains open to priority vehicles – emergency services, law enforcement and other authorized professions. But some users feel left out, like this resident having to go to work in Grande-Terre, “I've been waiting for 7 hours and since I don't have a priority vehicle, so I can't go even if I'm requisitioned by my work (…). I showed them everything… my plate, my card but no, there's nothing to do…”
Among the users who reach the barge, some discover the disturbance on the Issoufali quay upon arrival. This is the case of Mariama, “I've been waiting for an hour and a half for the barge (…). I haven't had any information, I hadn't been told that it was at the Ballou quay, so I've been waiting all along hour at the Issoufali quay”.
At present, no announcement from the STM has been made regarding the reopening of the Issoufali quay. The traffic order also remains in force until the next announcements from the prefecture. The inhabitants of Petite-Terre will therefore have to be patient and anticipate their travels, hoping that the situation will be resolved as quickly as possible.
