No cargo vessel for days

He said because of the interference from authorities in Trinidad, the island has to go days without a functioning cargo vessel, which is affecting the lives of many Tobagonians especially the business sector.

“We have documentary evidence that there is someone on the board of Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago that are playing games, they do not want the super-fast Galicia to service the people of Tobago,” said Duke who is also president of the Public Services Association (PSA).

“We want to make it absolutely clear to all that Tobagonians are fed-up with Trinidad getting involved in our business, yes the sea bridge is our business, yes the air bridge is our business because for the ordinary person in Trinidad while it is for them an occasion to ‘oh lala lay’, for us an occasion to survive. We are tired and we are not prepared to take it anymore!” He is promising a march in Scarborough to send a signal to Trinidad that, “Tobagonians have had enough of their (Trinis) control.” He is willing to fight to implement new procedures which will allow Tobago to import its own food directly from members of Caricom.

“The superfast Galicia falls under the ambit of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), under the fifth schedule, under number 16 which says Tobago is responsible for both air and sea transportation...then Tobago must have a say.

Otherwise, we will be leaving here and seeking a new relationship with Grenada, Barbados, St Vincent,” Duke said.

Contacted for comment, TT Chamber of Commerce, Tobago Division, Chairman Demi John Cruickshank said, “From next Wednesday, there would be interruptions.

We are waiting on the board of the Port Authority to come back to us on what are the dates (for resumption of sailing).

We are losing a lot of money in Tobago, the business community is screaming because we still have our commitment to the banks, and it’s a serious problem right now to do business in Tobago because of the uncertainty of the vessel.” Asked about the status of the Super-fast Galicia, Minister of Works and Transportation Rohan Sinanan yesterday said, “the boat has been reflagged, last Wednesday and Thursday already and is back on service.

Today the boat returned and it is on route to Tobago as we speak.

So everything is ok, we have no issues at all with it, everything is in place, service is normal.”