Acting CEO of the T&T Inter-Island Transportation Co Ltd Leon Grant said, yesterday, rescheduled sailings of the inter-island ferries between Trinidad and Tobago had nothing to do with Tobago House of Assembly (THA) members seeking to meet US Vice-President Joe Biden. Instead, they were because of security arrangements for his visit. Speaking to the T&T Guardian by phone yesterday, Grant dismissed a rumour that THA officials had commandeered the ferry to bring their cars to Trinidad for Biden’s visit.
He said the company received a late request from the Maritime Services Division not to sail between 3 pm on Monday and 10 am yesterday and had no choice but to comply since the arrangement was part of the national security plan for Biden’s visit. Grant said it was unfortunate that some passengers had missed the earlier sailings. An advertisement published in a daily paper on Saturday gave the rescheduled times for travel from Trinidad and Tobago.
The ad read: “T&T Inter-Island Transportation Co Ltd (TTIT) wishes to advise the public that due to security arrangements in place on May 27 and 28, 2013, during the visit by US Vice-President Mr Joe Biden, the sailings on the inter-island ferries have been rescheduled.
“The 6.30 am sailing on Monday from Port-of-Spain remained as scheduled but the 5 pm sailing was rescheduled to noon on the same day, as was the sailing from Tobago to Trinidad. Yesterday, the 6.30 am sailing from Port-of-Spain was rescheduled to noon while the 5 pm sailing remained as scheduled.” Some passengers complained to the T&T Guardian of not being aware of the early departure of the sailing.
One passenger said yesterday he had been unaware of the change in time and passengers were given very little notice. He said he had to pay for an extra night’s stay in Tobago but many people were also left stranded and some were unable to afford accommodation for the additional stay.