Troublesome bridges

Thus far, no one seems to have been able to answer the question.

And this Good Friday, while the tradition of eating hot cross buns, attending church, and beating bobolees will be observed, another Easter vacation tradition will unfold.

The Tobago ferry will come to a standstill.

Or at least that is the worry.

According to Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles, there is nothing to fear from the recall of the MV Super-Fast Galicia. It is said the 13-year-old Galicia is the only vessel that transports cargo between Trinidad and Tobago daily. However, since the charter contract expired, the vessel has been on a month-to-month arrangement which will end, we are told, on Good Friday. Charles said the THA will treat the issue as “top priority” and will keep the public informed as the situation progresses.

“I do understand that there will be public concern,” Charles said.

“Measures are being put in place to treat with our cargo transport needs in the short term.” He said he has spoken with Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan, who has indicated interim plans are being made to ship bulk cargo to the island once the vessel is removed from the route.

We agree with the call made by THA Minority Leader Watson Duke, who has urged both the central government and the THA to meet immediately and deal with the issue.

Tobago has been going this way from time immemorial. When are we going to get serious and resolve the problem of the sea and air bridges once and for all? By sea, the journey has degenerated into an epic four-hourlong expedition (previous ferries achieved the journey in about two and a half hours). By air, the service is good. However, flights are sometimes fully booked. While Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) often adds extra flights to cater for seasonal demand, it is not clear if these additional resources are enough to service demand.

All of this has a negative impact on business and on tourism. How can people plan their activities when they are not sure goods will get to Tobago on time or cannot be guaranteed a flight back? Every year, Tobago is a big destination for Easter. A large number of visitors to the island come from Trinidad. There needs to be a clear plan to resolve the transportation problems between the two islands, both by air and by sea. Whether the problem is faulty engines, uneven demand patterns, or inadequate planning, a concerted effort must be made to ensure Tobago’s development and trade are no longer hindered by this problem.

Meanwhile, it is good to know Tobago is the kind of destination that could really go a long way in dealing with the economic problems the country faces. Tourism is an important industry that can grow even more if better attention is paid to management. For example, the current impasse over the location of the Tobago Jazz Experience is completely unnecessary.

It could have been avoided with proper consultation with all the relevant stakeholders, such as the Environmental Management Authority.

We hope tomorrow’s meeting will involve the appropriate scope of officials and that an adequate solution will be devised which will minimise disruption. However, we warn that a long-term fix is needed to this problem which had been allowed to run away for too long..