The Port Authority of T&T board would have preferred more time to obtain ferry vessels instead of the recent 10-day time-frame, which was too “tight,” PATT board chairman Alison Lewis has admitted.
Lewis spoke about the time-frame - and confirmed Port management weaknesses - during yesterday’s day two of the Joint Select Committee scrutiny of the ferry service, including procurement and management aspects.
While People’s National Movement members on the JSC— like Government’s Franklin Khan— focused on issues concerning the “Galicia,” acquired under the past People’s Partnership government, United National Congress members on the panel - like Wade Mark - focused on ferries acquired under the current PNM administration. Questioning kept switching focus from one to the other.
Lewis acknowledged much discussion had occurred on what went awry with the ferry situation recently. But she said it had to be considered in the context of the emergency provision the Port was asked to deliver and the 10 days time frame it had to work with.
“We’d have preferred more time but didn’t have that,” Lewis said, adding there were other things the Port would have also liked to do as well, but couldn’t.
On the board’s overall relationship with Port management, Lewis said the board had to relate to management “quite frequently as there are fundamental weaknesses.”
“While there’s no animosity of fractiousness between us, we’ve made it quite clear to management - because of certain weaknesses we see, especially regarding documentation and ability of management to do certain instructions - that we’d hold them accountable.”
Lewis said the board wasn’t an executive board and management was therefore accountable.
“It’s correct to say we’ve had issues which we’re not happy with. We recognise the Port has been left to languish for many years and the question of how it’s structured and organised,leaves a lot to be desired.
“There’ve been a lot of vacant posts for a long time, and instances of one person doing two jobs - not ideal.”
Lewis said the Port wasn’t properly structured to be a modern day profitable entity.
“Attention to the port hasn’t been there. There are practices that need modernising, some need to be stamped out.”
Its business model needs changing and governing legislation needs examination, she said, adding the question of restructuring/reorganisation was already discussed and the board was given until year-end to obtain a business plan.
Lewis said the controversial Ocean Flower 2 was inspected by Lloyd’s Registry in South Korea. Acting Port CEO Charmaine Lewis said the tenders team for the vessel included three Port board members and a Central Tenders Board representative - but she said the CTB representative didn’t attend meetings on it.
Inter-island Ferry Transport Service acting CEO Leon Grant also said he inspected the Ocean Flower 2 and observed sea trials in Panama. But he said it has technical and engineering problems.
Grant said the previous “Galicia” had no technical problems, only five berthing issues some of which were dealt with.
KHAN: GALICIA ‘IMPROPRIETY
Inter-Continental Shipping (ICS), which had not tendered for procurement of the “Galicia” vessel, ended up winning the bid even though it was the agent for attorney Nyree Alfonso, who was initially involved the procurement process.
JSC member Franklin Khan, making that contention yesterday, added, “If that’s not, at best, impropriety, I don’t know what is.”
Khan said he had letters showing where Alfonso told Port management ICS will act as agent for her.
Replying to Khan’s queries, Port acting CEO/GM Charmaine Lewis said Alfonso was retained by the then Works Ministry initially to assist the procurement process and was eventually invited to identify vessels available for the ferry service.
Acting CEO of the T&T Inter-Island Transport Service Leon Grant said there had been problems with the vessel then - “Warrior Spirit” - and the ministry retained Alfonso to assist. He believed she was asked to assist finding a replacement for the “Spirit.”
Khan queried how Alfonso’s company was among nine tendering for a vessel. Grant said she may have been invited, but couldn’t recall if it was by the Port.
Lewis confirmed Alfonso’s name was on the list, prompting Khan to query what due diligence was done in allowing an adviser on an issue to tender in the same issue.
Lewis said the then GM and Port Secretary who made the decision are no longer at the Port. She said Inter-Continental Shipping (ICS) wasn’t invited to tender, but that company replaced Alfonso’s on the list.
Khan said, “My information was ICS claimed it acted as agent for Alfonso’s company, - making it curiouser and curiouser.”