‘Warrior Spirit’ to fight down Tobago prices

Speaking at last Friday’s post-Cabinet news conference, at Whitehall, Imbert said the vessel was so large that it could hold as much cargo as the Sonia and Panorama put together. He said this should make the cost of transporting goods to Tobago cheaper.

“But we live in a free market and one can only ask the businessmen to pass on the benefits to the consumers,” he said.

Having toured the vessel, Imbert vouched for the Warrior Spirit’s seaworthiness, even though it was built 26 years ago. He assured the vessel appeared to be in excellent condition.

“But the proof of the pudding is in the eating,” he added cautiously. The vessel began operating last Friday afternoon.

On another transport note, Imbert revealed that Government might have to reduce the scope of works to be done on the paving of the Piarco runway.

He said because of a hectic flight schedule between now and World Cup cricket next year, less hours would be available for the runway to be paved. He said Government was considering foregoing the milling process, that is, the removal of old asphalt.

As for the mass transit rail system, Imbert said 84 firms had accepted letters of interest to tender.

He said these included all the large players in design and construction of railway systems. Among these, 11 are from the US, five from Canada, two from Germany, and one each from China, England, France, India, Spain and Venezuela. Six of the firms are based in Trinidad and Tobago.

Imbert said the first leg of the system would be from Port-of-Spain to Curepe.

Curepe would also be the chain station for the branching off of the system into South Trinidad.

He hoped the Curepe line would be open in three years. He said the Government’s consultant was a US-based firm — Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade and Dougas.

Imbert said the system was still estimated to cost US$2.5 to US $3 billion.

He said because of the constraints of land space in areas like Port-of-Spain, elements of the system would have to be constructed above ground, while others would be on the ground.