Friday tells ferry users resist implementation of user fee

The Grenadines terminal at the Kingstown wharf will be a first class facility so objectors should thank the Government for providing a good facility and stop asking nonsense.

This is the bold view of Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves which he expressed when he answered a question posed by Northern Grenadines’ representative Dr Godwin Friday in parliament last Thursday.{{more}}

Dr Gonsalves confirmed that a one-dollar fee will be implemented for the use of the new terminal which is the new access to the wharf for passengers travelling to the Grenadines. School children in uniform and senior citizens are exempted from the fees.

He explained that representatives from the Port Authority had visited neighbouring Caribbean countries including Trinidad and St Kitts to get ideas for an appropriate, comfortable facility and were inspired by what they saw in St Kitts.

He said that the EC$100,000 facility will eliminate the problem of people being exposed to the elements when they use the Grenadines’ ferry service.

The terminal will have a 50-seat capacity and be equipped with wireless internet, lockers for temporary storage of luggage, toilets with access for the physically challenged, and cable television.

While he admitted that the Port Authority has not done the best job with public relations, Dr Gonsalves said that some people were trying to get political mileage from the issue.

He added that travel to the Grenadines by ferry is subsidized by the Government because profit made by ferry operators, once they are registered in St Vincent and the Grenadines, is not taxed.

“No one can tell me that if you have a top level facility that people will object to paying one dollar,” Dr Gonsalves said.

But Dr Godwin Friday objects and does so vigorously. Calling the move ridiculous, Dr Friday said that there should be no user fee.

“The building was there already, they are just putting in some chairs, and the renovation cost is insignificant when compared with the monies they will collect over the years,’ Dr Friday said.

He accused the government of adding an additional burden on the shoulders of Vincentians, especially people of the Grenadines.

Dr Friday told SEARCHLIGHT that he would continue to resist the move and called on all ferry users to resist the implementation of the fee.

Meanwhile, officials of the Port Authority are preparing for an April 15 implementation of the new system and are hoping to have a trial run the week before.