Former Transport Minister Knocks Junior Minister Young Misleading Information about the Galicia
Now reading about Junior Minister Stuart Young’s contribution to the Budget debate and his referencing the MV SuperFast Galicia. I have always thought that if you do not know then ask, and always surround yourself with people plenty brighter than you which in my case is not difficult.
Junior Minister Young makes reference to the PPG ‘secretly spending $24.0M in infrastructural adjustments to facilitate the safe berthing and operationalization of the Galicia’.
He and others in his Government keep making reference to this berthing issue. Well first things first the $24.0M expenditure was tendered under the rules of the PATT and the project scope was for the rebuilding of an old wooden loading ramp, left over from the Rum Bond that was located on the site. The wooden ramp was totally inadequate and in a dilapidated condition and required replacing regardless of which vessel was being used for the Tobago cargo run.
The contract was executed and came in on time and within budget, something the Junior Minister’s administration is not familiar with.
To use the term ‘secretly’ implies some sort of underhandedness, crookedness or hidden which I don’t understand as thousands of persons viewed the construction of the much needed facility on a daily basis.
The Junior Minister is also quoted as saying that the sole commissioner, Mr Moutett, ‘unearthed’ the expenditure of the $24.0M. All the sole commissioner had to do was pick up the phone and speak to either myself, the former PS or the former Chairman of the PATT. He would have saved himself hours of ‘unearthing’ hard work. It should be noted that the sole commissioner never once spoke to anyone connected with the Galicia in the former administration.
This is a fact.
Junior Minister Young makes the statement that the Galicia could not dock safely at Scarborough port. Absolute rubbish, like his boss he is playing smart with foolishness. There was and is no problem with Scarborough.
There was a berthing problem with POS, which the new ramp and linesman jetty constructed has solved. The other issue was the dredging of the turning basin and berthing basin and the removal of (3) wrecks. This issue of the berthing at POS is a old, old issue which Junior Minister Young’s previous PNM administrations failed to address. The wrecks in the Sea Lots basin have been there for as long as I can remember, I am sure more than 50 yrs now. The dredging of the Tobago ferry terminal was done (17) years ago.
These are the facts.
What is it with the current administration that they refuse to accept responsibility for the complete collapse of the Tobago ferry service in April 2017, (21) months after the PPG was voted out.
This is a fact.
Junior Minister Young goes on about the Galicia not being able to sail for two (2) months after she arrived in POS.
The Galicia arrived on June 7th, 2014 at 0800 hrs.
The Galicia sailed to Tobago on July 7th, 2014.
This is a fact.
What part of this does ‘the not so bright’ Junior Minister not understand? If you do not know Junior Minister do not follow Junior Minister Hinds nor ‘don’t know anything’ Minister Sinanan and continue to make foolish statements that you cannot support.
Ask people who know and can assist you, stop surrounding yourself with ‘dotish’ people.
Also a fact.
No wonder the three MP’s look like little, giggling school boys after being asked to vacate the Parliament.
Former Transport Minister
Stephen Cadiz