Bavita Gopaulchan
While the introduction of the APT James to the fleet of vessels on the Seabridge puts to rest one issue, the Prime Minister is concerned that it may give rise to another problem.
Delivering remarks at the commissioning of the APT James in Tobago yesterday, Dr Keith Rowley said he was concerned that there may be people looking to sabotage the new US$73 million vessel.
He, therefore, advised the Port Authority of T&T to beef up security onboard the vessel as he reminded them of an alleged sabotage incident on the Galleons Passage in 2018 in which someone put rocks in the sewer system, causing the toilets to malfunction.
“I have received a number of WhatsApp messages from citizens warning me and besieging me to tell the Port to make sure that there is adequate security on this boat to prevent anyone from sabotaging anything on this boat”, Rowley claimed.
“When we open the Brian Lara Stadium, individuals went in there with clothes, jerseys and stuff it in the toilet and flooded the Brian Lara Stadium so somebody could say that something is wrong with the Brian Lara Stadium. We have those ragamuffins among us in Trinidad and Tobago”, he added.
Dr Rowley said he is relieved that the vessel is finally ready to service the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. He said it comes after “ incessantly harassing” the National Infrastructure Development Company (NIDCO) and the Minister of Works and Transport to address the Sea Bridge challenges.
Rowley noted that he was concerned about the vessel’s maintenance and advised citizens to do all that they can to ensure its shelf life extends well over 20 years.
“This vessel cost $500 million. It is not a toy! It is not cheap and is not to be treated lightly because it is a major investment,” according to the Prime Minister.
Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly, Ancil Dennis, said the people of Tobago are extremely grateful that the central Government heard their cries and purchased two new vessels. He noted that the Seabridge crisis pointed to an important point and that is, Tobago is unable to feed itself. However, he is adamant that change is on the horizon. Dennis hopes over the next three years the island’s overall contribution to economic development will increase.
Declaring that Tobago is now open for business, the Prime Minister also challenged Tobagonians to market the island by offering tourists a “day-out in Trinidad”.
Members of the media, Cabinet Ministers, Nidco chairman Herbert George and other officials as well as family members of the late Alphonso Philbert Theophilus James were onboard the vessel for its maiden voyage yesterday. Among the Ministers were, Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan, Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Randall Mitchell, Minister of Public Administration and Digital Transformation Allyson West, Minister of Youth Development and National Service Fitzgerald Hinds.
The vessel’s journey from the Ferry Terminal in Port of Spain to the Scarborough Port lasted approximately three hours.
It can carry up to 926 passengers and 250 vehicles. The other new vessel purchased by the government, Buccoo Reef, left for Trinidad yesterday and is expected to arrive in over a month’s time. The Buccoo Reef can carry over 1,000 passengers and is said to be faster than the APT James.