CABINET SCRAPS TOBAGO RETREAT OVER FERRY CRISIS

THE Keith Rowley Cabinet backed away from hosting its retreat in Tobago because of the latest ferry crisis.

The administration briefly considered having government ministers and senior technical officers in the sister isle for the three-day event.

But the plan was quickly scrapped over fears of inflaming the current emergency over the inter-island transportation of cargo.

Colm Imbert, Minister of Finance and Chairman of the ruling People’s National Movement was a principal figure in the decision and the subsequent move to hold the event at Crews Inn, Chaguaramas.

The cargo crisis developed after a fire took place in the engine room of MV Cabo Star.

This led to shortages of food and other items and a spike in prices.

Businesses said their operations were affected and expressed fears over a scarcity of essentials.

The problem prompted an unusual criticism from the Minority Leader of Tobago House of Assembly, Kelvon Morris, a PNM official, who slammed the response of the Port Authority.

Morris said the leadership of the Port Authority “seems to lack the sense of urgency, the sense of empathy and the sense of care to properly articulate a clear plan of action and to bring about a swift resolution and relief.”

He said “the lacklustre approach” was “demoralising and disrespectful to the people of Tobago.”

He called for action from Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan.

There was similar outrage from many Tobago residents.

President of the Tobago Division of the national Chamber of Industry and Commerce Curtis Williams said losses could amount to millions of dollars.

Construction is “grinding to a halt” because of the lack of building material, Williams said.

Sinanan apologised in Parliament for the crisis and revealed that a vessel had been leased to provide a temporary service.

The Rowley Government previously held Cabinet retreats at Blenheim House, the official residence on the island of the Prime Minister.

An upgrade of the residence was completed in 2020, with the Government putting the cost at $17.5 million and the Opposition claiming it was $63 million.

The sea bridge service has been disrupted several times in recent years as a result of various issues, including mechanical problems.

Businesses and residents have been querying when the inter-island transportation crisis would end.

Previous disruptions caused massive chaos in Tobago, with the period of 2017-2018 being the worst in recent times.

In 2018, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar threatened to file a parliamentary motion of no-confidence in Sinanan, “for the collapse of the seabridge.”

Ms. Persad-Bissessar called then for compensation for those affected by the crisis.

In 2017, the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce asked: “Is there no end to the seabridge crisis?”

The business body said then that the authorities had not heeded advice on the matter.

In the midst of the latest emergency, the Rowley Cabinet retreated to Chaguaramas.