A temporary solution is on its way to transport goods and supplies to Tobago. The business sector has been facing challenges in moving goods across the island ever since the Cabo Star experienced a fire on board, rendering it out of service for the past two weeks. The Port Authority announced that the MV Emprendedora will arrive in the country by the weekend. It is coming from Venezuela and was secured by the Bridgeman’s group, which manages the Cabo Star, according to Port Authority Chairman Lyle Alexander.
After the vessel arrives, it will be a few more days before it can be put into service because it requires the necessary legal authorizations to operate in Trinidad and Tobago. In the meantime, the Galleons Passage accommodates 18 3-ton trucks per trip daily, while other trucks are accommodated on the other passenger ferries. Alexander also dismissed claims that trucks were being left behind.
Expanding on this, Vilma Lewis-Cockburn, the Deputy CEO of the Inter-Island Transportation Company, suggested that some of the trucks left behind might be empty trucks. When the media pointed out that some of the trucks left behind were carrying perishable goods, Cockburn-Lewis suggested that they might have arrived late.
However, the truckers have a different story to tell. They reported spending hours, day after day, on the port hoping to secure a spot on a sailing.
