State Government mediates agreement and ensures smaller fare increase for boat tickets in Marajó

The price of the boat ticket between locations in Marajó, Cachoeira do Arari, and Belém will have a smaller adjustment than initially expected. Starting on October 1st, the fare will increase from R$ 40 to R$ 45. The agreement was finalized on Thursday (5), in a meeting between representatives of quilombola communities, transport companies, the Public Services Regulation and Control Agency of Pará (Artran), and the State Secretariat for Racial Equality and Human Rights (Seirdh).

The negotiation was initiated in August when residents of 13 quilombola and riverside communities along the Arari River sent a letter to Seirdh requesting mediation from Artran. The goal was to avoid the R$ 10 increase that was scheduled for September.

On this Thursday, in addition to defining the fare increase, criteria for free passage, baggage limits, and boarding rules were discussed. During the meeting, the law regarding free passage was emphasized, which states that 15% of the boat's capacity, considering the number of seats and not the total occupancy, must be allocated to passengers entitled to the benefit, provided they arrive at the port at least 30 minutes before boarding. The rule from the Port Authority was also highlighted, stating that the transport is intended for passengers and not for cargo, allowing each user to board with up to four pieces of luggage, which must be stored under the seat.

The general director of Artran, Luciano Dias, emphasized that the understanding brought balance to the discussions. “This meeting was important because we managed to reach an understanding that benefits both the quilombola communities and the system operators. The fare increase is at a fair level, which does not burden those who depend on transport and ensures peace of mind for intermunicipal waterway travel,” he pointed out.

The manager of the Promotion of Quilombola Rights at Seirdh, Valdinei Gomes, emphasized the importance of mediation. “Seirdh plays a fundamental role, which is to bridge the gap between the State and quilombola communities. We constantly receive demands and seek to mediate with other secretariats and agencies to reach consensuses, as happened today. This debate and listening process between civil society and government is essential for beneficial agreements for both sides,” he explained.

On the side of the communities, quilombola Brenda Miranda assessed the meeting as positive. “Today it was defined that the fare will increase to R$ 45. We managed to negotiate so that it was only half of the expected increase. I can say that it was a fruitful negotiation for both parties, and we thank Artran for being open to this dialogue,” she stated.