Legal letter over Galicia

The Galicia was expected to leave Trinidad’s waters yesterday at about 2 pm but this was pushed back to 8 pm. During the day, there were reports that attempts were made by Galicia’s crew to depart Tobago for Spain and Coast Guard officials had to intervene.

Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan told Newsday this was not true.

“Everything is working as planned. The ship is loading cargo to come Trinidad and they will offload and then return to Tobago and then leave.” Chairman of the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (PATT), Alison Lewis, also denied such reports.

She said the Galicia was expected to leave Tobago yesterday evening, headed to Spain, after offloading its final cargo in Trinidad.

Meanwhile John Powell, Managing Director of the Galicia’s local agent, Inter-Continental Shipping Limited (ICSL), received a legal letter from the law offices of Dr Claude Denbow SC. Acting on behalf of Sinanan and Government, the law firm said Denbow “has advised that the charter hire agreement (CHA) is still in place.” Powell was given until 9 am today to respond to the firm’s statement that the CHA’s “existence and continuing life has been acknowledged by the letter of 12th August 12, 2016 from ICSL.” Declaring Powell was “acutely aware” of the Galicia’s vital role, the firm said Government was advised that “no amount of damages can compensate for ICSL’s breach of contract”.

Powell was then called on to “continue performing the CHA” until October 31.

If ICSL fails to do so, Government “will take such action as it may be advised in order to compel such performance.” Denbow’s letter to Powell came two days after Sinanan alluded to a possible lawsuit by Government for breach of contract regarding the abrupt withdrawal of the Galicia from service on the sea bridge.

Newsday attempted to speak with Powell yesterday but calls to his phone went unanswered. Sinanan said Powell’s attorneys “responded with some options around midday, to which our attorneys responded in turn. If (ICSL) can find a replacement for the Galicia without there being any disruption in service, that would be acceptable to us. However this would mean another vessel taking over from Sunday; the next scheduled cargo sailing,” Sinanan stated.