Farley: Cabo Star replacement identified

THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said a replacement for the MV Cabo Star, the cargo ferry that has served the seabridge since 2017, has been identified and will be submitted to Cabinet for approval.

The vessel has been sold by Bridgemans Services Group and will set sail when the lease expires on January 12, 2026.

During a political meeting in Goodwood on December 16, Augustine said the ending of the Cabo Star lease was no secret.

He said there were complaints from Tobagonians earlier in the day about the island not being informed about crucial issues.

He said he immediately contacted Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John, who provided him with the update.

“She said, 'Chief secretary, we already went out. We have evaluation teams that returned from Spain and Greece last week and I am going to Cabinet this Thursday to present to the Cabinet the option that those that did the evaluation said we should go with.'"

Augustine said John revealed there is an option of a 100-cabin vessel as well.

Newsday exclusively reported the sale of the Cabo Star on December 17 following confirmation by John the previous say. Newsday spoke to Deputy Chief Secretary Dr Faith Brebnor, PNM Tobago Council leader Ancil Dennis and Tobago Chamber of Commerce head Curtis Williams on December 16, but they were all unaware of the sale.

Augustine denied there was any nefarious action on the part of central government, as he recalled a discussion with stakeholders on the issue in June.

“It was on June 11, 2025 where yours truly as Chief Secretary had the minister with responsibility for the boat, Ms Jearlean John. She came to my office. In that meeting, we had the head of the port; head of the interisland ferry service; the head of the chamber of commerce, Mr Williams; we had the representative of the Tourism and Hospitality Association; we had people from the Truckers Association; supermarkets. We had the stakeholders represented in that meeting.

"Since June 11, we said to the stakeholders – it was said in my presence – that the contract for the Cabo Star will come to an end in January, and when it comes to an end, there has to be a tender process in accordance with OPR to either reengage or engage somebody new. So it was never a secret.”

He said in that meeting, the stakeholders were asked what would their ideal boat look like and what they need in a boat. The stakeholders, he said, reported that while the Cabo Star can be efficient, it isn’t the best boat. He said stakeholders gave reasons.

“The stakeholders watched Nidco, watched the Port Authority people, the interisland ferry people, watched Jearlean John in she face and they told her what they want. So it's not a secret.”

He acknowledged not being aware of the sale.

“The last time I checked, the Cabo Star was not a publicly owned boat. It is a privately owned boat and if they want to sell their boat, they don’t need to inform me that they’re selling their boat – is them boat so if they want to sell it, it’s their business. That has nothing to do with the THA, that has nothing to do with the government.”

He said he expects that John will have a transition plan.