Rambachan questions ferry contract

Calling on Chairman of the Port Authority Christine Sahadeo to explain to the nation what has transpired in the award of the contract, he asked whether any of the directors was a senior advisor to the Port Authority.

Claiming that the contract for the Canadian-based company Bay Ferries Limited had come to an end on September 30, Rambachan told the House of Representatives last Friday during the budget debate that he understood that “a new company, Magellan Maritime Services Limited, a locally incorporated company has been given the contract to manage the services.” The company was incorporated on March 4, 2016, he said and he would like to know the nature of the company since it has been budgeted for the Port Authority under the heading Government’s contribution towards deficit and operation of coastal steamers in the sum of $240 million this year.

He noted that last year the sum budgeted was $230 million and questioned why an increase in $10 million this year.

“What are we paying Magellan to do? Are they providing captain and sailors,” he queried. The company, he said, was registered in the name of three directors, Alfred McMillan, a marine pilot of Santa Margarita, St Augustine; Terry McMillan of Preysal and Peter Lyons, of Freeport. Rambachan questioned the skills sets and the role of the company in the operation of the fast ferries.

Rambachan said he was interested in the issue as a matter of public safety. If the operations were placed in the wrong hands, he feared to think of the a situation where accidents occurred and people are charged before the courts.

In making queries about the company, Rambachan said he was informed that “it is being used as a transition company” and as such needed clarification.