Rohan uphappy over sea bridge

Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan yesterday expressed disappointment with the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (PATT) over its handling of matters relating to the passenger vessels, TT Spirit and TT Express, both of which are out of service.

The TT Spirit was expected to undergo sea trial days ago but this was delayed while plans were still in the making for the TT Express to be taken to drydock for repairs. The Cabo Star is the only available vessel to shuttle passengers to Tobago. Speaking to reporters before a tour of the first phase of the Cumuto/Manzanilla Highway, Sinanan said although he was told that the TT Spirit would have resumed operations on the sea bridge, this still has not materialised.

“Let me put it this way, I have been disappointed several times with the dates that they have given to me so I will not want to pronounce on anything until they can confirm to me that they have gotten the required certificates and the boat is ready to roll,” he said.

Sinanan said as line minister for the PATT, he could not lose focus.

“The thing about it, I am very disappointed but I do have a responsibility as the minister so I cannot afford to lose faith. We are all disappointed with what is happening at the port and someone will be held accountable at the end of the day.” Sinanan said he has requested a full audit on the drydocking of the TT Express “and once someone has to be held accountable they will be.”

Regarding calls in some quarters for him to be fired over the ongoing sea bridge fiasco, the minister said he was not above reprimand.

“At the end of the day, a full report will be handed in (on the two vessels) and if it is the minister (who is to blame), then so be it. If it is management at the port, what has to happen will happen.”

Port officials had indicated that repair work on the TT Spirit was expected to have been completed on March 23.

Sinanan said he learnt that the vessel simply required a part.

“That part has extended to another part and another part. The last information that I have heard is that it went on sea trial yesterday (Friday). And there is something that still needs to be corrected.

“They have worked on it last night (Friday) and they are expecting to go on sea trial today (yesterday) again.”

Sinanan declined making any statements regarding when the vessel would return to the sea bridge “because I have been wrong on several occasions based on the information given to me by the port authority and I will only make a statement when I see the boat in the water with the certificates in hand.” Retired colonel Lyle Alexander was appointed new PATT chairman last month. He replaced Allison Lewis, who resigned abruptly.