A proposal which could see a vessel to replace the Super Fast Galicia in Trinidad and Tobago waters before the end of April is now being considered by the new Port Authority board.
Inter-Continental managing director John Powell yesterday told the T&T Guardian they presented three options to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Transport and port officials on Monday. The options are for a vessel to arrive in the country in 15 days, a vessel in 21 days or a vessel to get here by the end of May.
Powell left yesterday for Spain, where he will meet with the owners of the Galicia, Transmed.
“I am going to thank them for the service the vessel provided for Trinidad and Tobago in the past three years and to apologise for the bad PR which they got in light of all that has happened,” Powell said.
He said it is important for the country to remain in Transmed’s good books because “it is important that we keep a good relationship with Transmed because we never know when next we may need a vessel and they will be able to help. I want to ensure that Trinidad and Tobago remains high on their list.”
The Galacia, he said, had served the country well for three years “with no breakdowns, it was efficient and we have to be thankful for that service which benefited the people and stakeholders in Tobago.”
The Galicia makes its final trip to Tobago on April 21, following which it will depart for Gibraltar.
While in Europe, Powell said he will also be meeting with brokers in the search for a replacement vessel.
Contacted yesterday, Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan said he was aware Powell had made “some proposals. A file came to me, but these are tenderers and as line minister I have to be careful getting involved.”
He said Powell’s proposals were passed to the new Port Authority board headed by Allison Lewis. (See other story)
Before leaving for Europe, Powell told the T&T Guardian he was concerned about statements made by Sinanan that people were putting personal interests above the needs of the country.
He said, “I am surprised he would say something like that. At a meeting with the Minister on December 12th I told him we wanted to purchase the Super Fast. We are a local company, we would be providing employment for locals, port workers and the seamen.
“The benefit of the purchase would have been to the country. We were negotiating with a local bank to pay for the vessel in TT dollars, once the vessel was purchased it would be in local waters and not leave Trinidad and Tobago.”
But Sinanan yesterday said he stood by the statement “there are people who want everything to stay the same way.” He said the way things have been done, “people benefit from what happens at the port, we need to change that. It must not be where only a certain group benefit.”
He said he was amazed that three tenders had gone out for a vessel in the past 17 months “and all had to be scrapped.” As line minister, he said he will not get involved in the operations “that is up to the board headed by Allison Lewis, but the Prime Minister said when you are in charge be in charge, and that is what I intend to do. I stand by what I said.”
TT CHAMBER CONCERNED
Inter-Continental managing director John Powell yesterday met for more than two hours with officials from the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, led by CEO Gabriel Faria.
He said they wanted to get a better idea of how we got to this point
“I explained to them the efforts we have been making to get the contract renewed and we even offered to buy the vessel and rebrand it the Super Fast Tobago.”
Minister Sinanan also said he had received a call from Faria, who indicated that the chamber was concerned.
“I welcomed them to come and have consultations. I would welcome Faria’s intervention. I am setting up a meeting, he will meet with the board today.”
Sinanan said “we are trying to resolve the situation. I understand how important this is to the people of Tobago and we will do everything to bring about an early resolution.”
