Ferry still out of commission, travellers tired, frustrated and resigned

CARLA BRIDGLAL

LEEANDRO Noray hasn’t had a good night’s sleep in days. He’s part of the Tobago Panthers, a pan ensemble that competed in the Panorama Small Bands final Thursday night in Skinner Park San Fernando. But it’s not the Carnival jumbie that’s been keeping him up—it’s the erratic sea, and now air, bridge schedule between TT.

“Panorama finished at about 1.30 am. We barely had any sleep because we left San Fernando at 5.30 am to get here at 7 because check in was 9. Now it seems like every half an hour, they’re extending it,” Noray told Newsday yesterday at the Port of Spain Ferry Terminal.

Noray is one of scores of people – including four other Panorama small bands – all but stranded as they try to navigate the new arrangements for the seabridge after the TT Express, the sole ferry in operation, was suddenly removed from service “in the interest of public safety” by the Port Authority on Wednesday, because of rough seas– two days before the busy Carnival weekend, one of the most lucrative for the Tobago tourism industry.

The boat is also being inspected for re-certification of seaworthiness, after its licence expired at midnight on Wednesday. Even if is seaworthiness certification is renewed, most likely within the week, the primary reason the Express remains grounded is rough seas— regardless of if the port is granted a licence renewal, the ferry cannot sail until wave heights are reduced. The Met Office has issued a rough seas bulletin until Monday, with waves expected anywhere from seven to 12 metres in open water.

The seaworthiness assessment is also necessary because the Express is 22 years old and has had its scheduled dry-docking pushed back for over two years. Lewis said inspectors have requested that certain things be repaired before giving the all clear.

Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan assured that the application for re-certification has already been submitted, and is expected to be granted well before Wednesday—the duration of the Port’s interim arrangement with state-owned Caribbean Airlines to accommodate passengers booked on the Express. CAL has agreed to add three extra flights and 4,720 seats to its already 20,444 in operation. The port will also provide shuttles from the Ports of Port of Spain and Scarborough, to the Piarco and ANR Robinson International Airports, respectively.

Sinanan also reiterated that the sailings have been cancelled solely because of the weather, and the licence complication, not, as some people have theorised, because of the foiled terror plot announced by the TT Police Service on Thursday.

Despite assurances from the Port Authority, commuters are nonetheless sceptical about the arrangement. Back at the Port of Spain Ferry Terminal, at 11 am, there are ten check-in counters devoid of clerks to process travellers, who crowd the window, staring haplessly inside for some sign of activity, their frustration and tension palpable.

Finally, a red-shirted port worker comes out to address passengers, who are not impressed. “It’s only a whole set of run-around you all giving us. Communication is very important,” a man growls. He is also a member of Noray’s pan group and his main concern is trying to get his instruments safely loaded on the Cabo Star, the designated cargo ship which is being used to transport displaced vehicles booked on the Express.

Finally, at 11.30am, a chirpy female voice comes over the intercom to advise passengers that check in begins soon. The crowd responds with a uniform, “steups.”

Confirmed passengers were to be accommodated on first a 7 pm flight to Tobago, with the shuttles leaving the Port Authority at 3 pm. The second flight was expected to leave at 11:30 pm, and shuttles for that will leave at 5pm.

The crowd groans, but begrudgingly arranges itself in two straight lines for check-in, under the watchful eyes of two Port Authority policemen.

Noray shrugs in resignation. “They’re telling us these times, but you know nothing in this country leaves on time. They’re just going to have us sitting down whole day waiting. The don’t take Tobago seriously here. We are an afterthought. If this was affecting Trinidad more it would have been different,” he said.