A man completes crossing the Hope River with his bicycle on Saturday, as many other people cross to either side. Many persons have been crossing the river while those who are fearful are carried across for a fee. - peta-gaye clachar

The POLICE IN Harbour View say that they are aware that men in the area have been offering to take people beyond the break-off point at the community bridge for a fee, following damage caused by Tropical Storm Gustav last week.

However, they have no real problem with the act. Speaking with The Star yesterday, the police noted that the 'transporting' was a mutual agreement between the men and the 'customers' who willingly pay and as such, they had no issue with it nor have they received any complaints.

Ronald Jackson, director general at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) strongly advised against the practice, which he termed as 'risky'.

When The Star's news team pulled up to the now collapsed bridge, several men were seen offering their backs and hands to people who needed to get beyond the break-off point.

'Tall-man', one of the many 'guides', said fees for the service range from $100 to $300. "Yuh have two kind of travellers mi don, yuh have casual and then yuh have express," 'Tall-man' explained. "Casual jus waan yuh bring cross dem bag fi dem. De express one dem nuh waan get wet, so yuh bring dem pon yuh back, jockey style but dem pay a special fee fi dat service."

The 'entrepreneur' said that casual travellers might pay between $100 and $300 per bag while express travellers may be required to pay $500 and upward for the jockey service. In addition to that they also pay the usual baggage charges. He continued that he heads a three-man team that usually comes together to tackle big tasks involving five bags or more.