After an 18-hour journey from Venezuela, the MV Emprendedora arrived in Trinidad on Saturday. It is the vessel secured by the Bridgeman’s Services Group, which is the broker of the Cabo Star. Following a small engine room fire on board the Cabo Star on August 23rd, the vessel has been down for repairs. Since then, the transport of cargo between the islands has been disrupted. The MV Emprendeora can facilitate one-tenth of the capacity of trucks compared to the Cabo Star, but before it can operate, it must first be certified.
In the meantime, essential goods are being accommodated via 3-tonne trucks on the passenger ferries. Senator Lawrence Hislop said neither the situation nor the temporary solution is ideal, but it is the best option given the circumstances. He, however, pointed out that it is a signal of the need to improve warehouse capacity in Tobago.
Senator Hislop is concerned about what will happen to the business sector during a time of natural disaster. Political analyst Dr. Winford James dismissed the Senator’s arguments accusing him of ignoring the political realities of the situation.
According to Dr. James, Tobago’s current business sector realities are based on the sea bridge being established as an umbilical cord to Trinidad by both the present and previous PNM-led governments. Business Owners previously explained that the disruption in cargo transportation occurred at a time when many businesses were preparing for their monthly restocking. This is why several warehouses are now empty and there is a shortage of certain goods on the island.
