Tobago stakeholders got a small reprieve yesterday, with the announcement that the Super Fast Galicia will now leave the inter-island service on April 21 instead of April 18. But stakeholders are still unhappy with the alternatives presented to them in the short term to replace the vessel when it leaves.
Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan told the T&T Guardian “as of now there are three options on the table - the Warrior Spirit, the T&T Express and a barge which came to the island two weeks ago. The barge is huge and has walls so it is not the open barge where salt water will spoil the goods.”
The options were conveyed to Tobago stakeholders yesterday and while Sinanan admitted that the stakeholders “were not happy,” he said “the Government has a responsibility to ensure that cargo reaches Tobago.” He said while they could not “force them to put their cargo on any vessel, we continue to pursue other options.”
Looking at the alternatives, he said the Warrior Spirit can carry “perishable items and light cargo up top seven thousand kilogrammes, all the perishable items and three tonne trucks.”
The barge, he said, “came from Houston bringing cranes and heavy duty trucks.” He said it can carry cars and trucks loaded with heavy material, including cement, sand and building material.” He said the barge has walls and goods will not be affected by salt water or blast.
Sinanan said the option for the Galicia to stay in service fell through as the vessel has already been booked elsewhere.
The local agent for the Galicia, John Powell, has submitted four vessel options to replace the Galicia to Sinanan and the Port Authority of T&T. But Sinanan said the choice of vessel will now be left to the new board, which will be installed later today “and they will look at the vessels, as well as other offers because all of a sudden a lot of vessels are being offered for the service.”
In addition, he said tenders which went out on April 1 for a new vessel will close on April 24, the evaluation will take about a week and then it could take a month to get the vessel. He said the hope is that the vessel would get here by the end of May for three years.
“Going forward in the short term, what it calls for is some sacrifice, but when the barge came up the stakeholders said they don’t want a barge. But I am acting on the advice of the technocrats at the port. We feel comfortable the three options will give us time between April 22 and the end of May,” Sinanan said.
Meanwhile, Sinanan and port officials failed to deliver on their promise to have the T&T Express back in service yesterday.
Communications Manager of the Inter-Island Ferry Service, Vilma Lewis Cockburn, could shed no light on the reason why.
To pick up the slack, the Warrior Spirit was scheduled to sail at 11 am sailing and again at 11 pm utilising the crew from the T&T Express.
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