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  • 6 hours ago
A number of issues affecting truckers were brought to Chief Secretary Farley Augustine's attention as he boarded the MV Blue Wave Harmony cargo vessel from Port of Spain on Thursday.
The boat left Trinidad at 2pm and arrived shortly after 8pm, over 6 hours later at the Scarborough Port.
Among the main issues were the lack of air-conditioning in the cabins and non functioning toilet facilities. More from Elizabeth Williams.
Transcript
00:00We will get into Scarborough perhaps in around six hours or so from now.
00:05I will be with you throughout the journey and to our truckers who are present on board
00:11at some point during the journey, we will sit and have a conversation about the challenges
00:18that you face.
00:19But certainly I'm here with you to ensure that the Blue Wave Harmony is meeting the needs
00:25and your demands.
00:27President of the Trinidad and Tobago Seabridge Truckers Limited, Nicholas Manswell, told
00:33TV6 News a number of issues affecting truckers that use the MV Blue Wave Harmony were brought
00:39to the fore during an audience with Chief Secretary Fali Augustin.
00:44In terms of some of the issue of body vessels like cabins and stuff like that, there is
00:50a bit of an issue with the air condition system which is being worked upon right now as we
00:58speak so that not too long, sometime by this week, the cabins should be fully functioned
01:06and ready for truckers to use.
01:09Mr. Manswell said truckers told the Chief Secretary Fali Augustin to intervene on the reliability
01:16of the cargo vessel.
01:18of the cargo vessel.
01:19Efficient, reliable service, which the Chief Secretary saying on his part, he will do his best
01:26to get a more efficient, reliable service between the Twin Islands and a much better, easier
01:37turn-around time when the vessel arrives in Tobago.
01:42Manswell said communication on the cargo vessel remains paramount, in addition to available
01:48amenities.
01:49While onboard the vessel, internet access, you know, in terms of that if some of the truckers
01:56who apply the service for themselves, you know, they would have internet access to probably
02:02do a code, send out a receipt to a customer, that sort of thing, because when you're out
02:07there on the ocean, the communication aspect of it is not all that well.
02:15The MV Blue Wave Harmony has been contracted by government at a cost of US $25,000 daily,
02:22servicing the seabridge since the vessel's arrival on January 22nd.
02:26There were some setbacks, with damage to its hull during berthing manoeuvres at the port
02:32of Scarborough while undergoing its second sea trial on January 30th, causing shortages
02:39of goods arriving on island with some empty shells at supermarkets and hardware.
02:44Since then, the vessel has been operating smoothly.
02:48Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
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02:54You
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