Call made for upgrade to wharfs in the Grenadines

The connections between mainland St Vincent and the Grenadine islands are being highlighted as critical to tourism and the local business sector and as such a call is being made to fix the wharfs on these islands.

The call has come from boat operator and Captain of Jaden Sun Fast Ferry, Elvis Gooding, who spoke to SEARCHLIGHT in an interview where he discussed the challenges they encounter operating a ferry service between the islands.

Gooding, who launched the Admiralty Transport, a passenger ferry service said over the years other major players have come into the business and offered more connections between mainland and the Grenadines.

The operator who has more than 40 years of experience on the sea said the wharfs in the Southern Grenadines need to be upgraded. He singled out the Canouan wharf as one which presents a particular challenge for his vessel when it docks.

“Right now I’m having a problem with Canouan, for months I’ve been complaining about it but actually when you complain too much they close you off. So now I’m going into Canouan at my own risk, because the wharf is too shallow we’re going to run aground every time the ferry loads…”.

Gooding also said, despite the challenges, Canuoan is being kept on the service route as it is a key part of the Southern Grenadines connection.

“When the vessel goes alongside she goes on the ground and she’s aluminum, she can’t take too much ground and it’s a very soft material… If I stop Canouan it will stop everybody ‘cause it doesn’t make sense. All of them come together to make it work.”

Director of Grenadines Affairs, Edwin Snagg told SEARCHLIGHT that the government is aware of the challenges relating to the wharfs in the Grenadines noting that the one in Canouan has been a major talking point for vessel operators. He said the government is committed to doing the necessary upgrades.

“[The St Vincent] Port Authority deals with wharfs in the Grenadines- Mayreau there may be some structural challenges- and I know that the Port Authority has had their visits and that they are doing the necessary work…”.

“From time to time, any wharf anywhere there will be structural challenges and there will be need for repairs. The Port Authority is looking at all the challenges in terms of the Mayreau wharf and Canouan…that has been like a bug bear and there has been a lot of discussions about that,” Snagg said.

He said design work for the Canouan wharf has been completed by a company in Trinidad and Tobago but that issues have arisen with the investors and the government.