The sun has not yet risen when Benito Miguel Sánchez arrives at the Minatitlán boardwalk to offer his boat transportation services, an activity he has been doing for more than 20 years.
Carrying a bucket with his personal belongings and a lunch box with his breakfast food, he prepares to take his passengers of all ages across the river, who use this service daily.
What is Don Miguel’s job as a boatman in Minatitlán like?
With a broad smile, pleasant conversation and faith that he will be able to gather enough resources to pay for the boat rental, the purchase of gasoline and his food, he sits in the back of the boat.
“I arrive here at 4 in the morning and I leave between 11 and 12 noon, when I see that I have gathered enough to be able to pay the boss the 300 pesos he charges daily for the boat rental,” he explained.
In an interview, in addition to telling us about his children, now elderly, who have lived in León, Guanajuato, for several years, he told us about his exploits on the boat and some stories from when the big ships arrived in Minatitlán.
“Everything has happened to us here, but we are prepared for any incident, we have the necessary training to attend to the passengers and provide adequate care, in my history as a boatman I have saved three people from drowning, they told me they were going to pay me, but I did not accept anything, the reward always comes from God,” he said.
His most faithful companion is the Coatzacoalcos River, which crosses from the Minatitlán boardwalk to the island of Capoacan, San Carlos and other colonies and communities that are on the other side of the tributary, at least a hundred times.
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Although there are around a hundred boats in the area, there is never a lack of work because the clients are varied and constant, since they are workers, students or housewives who come to make purchases.
“We go and come back at least a hundred times, we take out at most about 600 pesos, from which we have to pay for gasoline, the boat rental and our expenses, it is hard work because we barely charge six pesos for the trip, when they are more distant places they charge twenty or thirty pesos, suddenly we go to Coatzacoalcos, but there are few trips that we make like that,” he explained.
Don Benito is optimistic in the face of the economic inclemency that sometimes occurs, because, in addition to making the daily payment for the boat, his contract includes maintenance, cleaning it and keeping it in good condition.
His most faithful companion is the Coatzacoalcos River, which crosses from the Minatitlán boardwalk to the island of Capoacan, San Carlos and other colonies and communities | Photo: Jesús Escamiroza / Diario de Xalapa
“We have no vices of drinking, smoking, or anything like that, it is said that the early bird catches the worm, that is why we are doing well, every day we are thankful for what we have, my children are already grown and do not need me, and for now I am alone, so what I earn is enough for my livelihood,” he commented.
The more than two decades that he has been driving the boat has made him an expert and, in addition, that every certain period of time he continues to prepare himself to be able to transport people with the greatest possible safety.
Showing his sea book, issued by the Navy, he assures that he is qualified to navigate in national waters without any inconvenience.
“We have the sea book, we also carry life jackets for all passengers, here on the boat we can only transport seven people, but they are all safe, we also have reflectors to light up the clients because when I go out to work the moon still accompanies me, preparation must be essential for good service and that makes you have more clients,” he said.
The man, who is already an older adult, assures that he will continue to dedicate himself to transporting people by boat for several years, “until the body, soul and mind allow it.”
“Every day I thank God for life, for continuing to stand, working and for allowing me to continue providing this service. Bringing people safely to their destination is something that should not be taken lightly, but done responsibly and with the greatest care. Gratitude for the work that gives you food should be essential every day,” he added.
Source: diariodexalapa
