Former transport minister Devant Maharaj has labelled the August 21 meeting between Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Tobago stakeholders over the failure to acquire an inter-island ferry as a “public relations” gimmick.
Among those expected to attend are representatives from the Tobago Chamber of Commerce, Tobago Hoteliers and Tourism Association, Tobago Truckers Association, Tobago Unique Bread and Breakfast and Self-Catering Association. Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan and Tobago MPs Shamfa Cudjoe and Ayanna Webster-Roy also are expected to attend, a release from the Office of the Prime Minister said over the weekend.
The meeting came in wake of the Port Authority of T&T’s decision to cancel the Ocean Flower 2 contract with the Vancouver-based Bridgemans Services Group LP (BSG), after a report suggested several mechanical issues may have been responsible for the delays it suffered on its way to Port-of-Spain.
The Ocean Flower was given an unfit rating by PATT chief engineer Brendon Powder, after he carried out a sea trial of the vessel in Panama and identified a number of mechanical defects. The report was received by the Port Authority two days before the cancellation of the contract.
In a release yesterday, Maharaj said conspicuously absent from the list for the meeting was the Port Authority representatives who are directly responsible for the sea bridge between Trinidad and Tobago.
“The stakeholders will be denied an opportunity to find out what went wrong with the procurement process and who is responsible. Discussions on the shortcomings of the Bridgemans vessel Cabo Star and the botched and bungled Ocean Flower 2 will be incomplete with this absence.
“The critical issues that face the economy of Tobago and the people of Tobago have to wait once again. Why could not this meeting be held on Monday August 14, 2017, given the urgency that the situation demands?” Maharaj asked.
He said while Rowley has apologised for the ferry fiasco, neither the line minister nor the PATT board chairman have shown contrition.
Meanwhile, watchdog group FIXIN’ T&T yesterday reiterated its call for a police investigation of the matter to determine whether there was any criminal conduct by those involved. It also thanked the whistle blower who leaked the inspection report on the Ocean Flower.
saying this underscored the urgency for the effective implementation of meaningful legislation to protect whistle blowers who are vital to this country’s democracy and economy.