Skip to main content

Ratch!





The feeling one gets when in Tobago is just one of peace and tranquility. Today the familia headed off to Buccoo for a quiet BBQ and even though there was some rain, that did not change the price of cocoa. We had the beach to ourselves, bar one or two families who came and went whilst we were there. Just peace and quiet. When we were leaving the horses arrived with a group of children and I thought what better way to spend your vacation than to come to Buccoo.
Of course the Buccoo Stadium was empty, what a waste of money. I am not saying for one minute we should not have crab and goat racing but to spend $100.0M on a facility that is used for a handful of days in any one year is sinful. Next to it is the Buccoo Multi-purpose Facility and on the beach is a broken down jetty for the fishermen, no refueling station no marina facilities for visiting yachts or sport fishermen. I guess the deal with fishermen is that if on election day fish biting then that is where the fishermen are going to be, so no vote for you, and that is my simple theory why fishermen are treated the way they are treated in the twin island state. If someone has another theory then I would love to hear it.

Still on matters relating to the sister isle I see that the 12 passenger Cabo Star cargo vessel has dropped anchor in the Port of Spain harbor. The passenger ferry, the Ocean Flower 2, is still making her way down the west coast of the US heading towards the Panama Canal with her final port being Trinidad. Once the vessels arrive then the convoluted paperwork starts. When the Galicia arrived in May 2014 it took ages for the paperwork to be done, I can only assume that the same diligence will be the order of the day with the replacement ferries.
Still a matter of concern is who are the owners and local agents of both vessels. Why is this an issue, why is it that no one knowns anything? The Minister of Ferries is as ignorant of any fact regarding the contracted ferries. The Chairman of the PATT, a person who spent her professional life in the public service is also as ignorant of the pertinent facts as is the Minister. So, who is minding the store? I guess the status quo remains the same with this administration's historic style of doing business when it comes to the ferry business. Ratch!
The existing fast ferry, T&T Spirit, will not be in operation in the near future. How come the Minister of Ferries is not aware of the situation? If he was not aware when asked the question he literally could have picked up the phone and in two and a half minutes got the full low down. Instead he looks like a person who is either totally out of his depth [or draught in this case] or is lying through his teeth.  Once again people on the rock, these two replacement ferries are costing the country a bomb and no one knows why!

The big, anxiously awaited meeting between the PMOTT and the LOTO happened and that was it. It happened, so plebs, you cannot say it did not happen. There!

Tomorrow we return to the big island. I hope another piece of bad weather does not land and create the havoc that we saw with the passing of 'Bret' and 'Don.' Gawd help us if a real storm hits us. The frightening thing is that there has been zero statements as to what the Minister of Ferries and now Storms intends to do about the flooding. High winds will always be a challenge. I remember when Grenada was hit by 'Ivan' nearly 90% of the buildings were damaged. Flooding is another issue especially when man made. There is still a semi submerged barge blocking the mouth of the Diego Martin River, WASA still has water mains installed across the Maraval River that hinder the flow of water when the river is in flood mode. These are things that are manageable and as always with proper planning we can avoid a catastrophe.
Hats off to the Caura limers, who were stranded as a result of the river flooding, for listening to the fire service rescuers and leaving the curry goat and chicken behind.

I have started to trace my heritage in Tobago and today met 'a family' with whom I will try and find out if there is any relation to Charles Fitzgerald Cadiz, AG for Tobago in the early 1800s.

Goodnight and good luck!



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Delta 4 over and out!

Sitting here in Maraval tonight its very windy with the electrical power dipping every now and again. From all reports the storm has gone to the north and the island of Trinidad is OK. Tobago however could be in for a rough patch. The Tropical Storm, now named Bret, is the second for the season and was formed very low in the Atlantic and threatened both Trinidad and Tobago. The last time a hurricane was named Bret was in August, 1999. It was a category 4 hurricane that thankfully did not prove to be that destructive with minimum fatalities and physical damage to property. Of course I marvel at the officialdom in T&T. Today, the party boats were out sailing to wherever. The island is under a storm watch and nobody thought it wise to restrict non-essential marine traffic. The Tobago ferries were restricted, the offshore oil and gas platforms were being evacuated and we were at the same time loading 'feters' to go on a party cruise. What exactly is the protocol? If a storm e...
Post a Comment
Read more

ADD

A great thing happened today. I washed my car and it did not rain. OK, so other absolutely great things made history today, I am sure something was discovered that will change mankind, decisions by world leaders for world peace. None of that is of interest to me because the simple task of washing my car was what was of great import and I marvelled at the sun and dry weather. It is the little things in ones life that give the greatest joy. Tomorrow should be the same with a prediction of only 20% precipitation. Two days with a clean car is good. I am one of those who curse WASA who has leaks on the main roads with spray flying all around and dirtying up my clean car. WASA should have zero leaks, that should be WASA's goal, I don't think that they are interested in any of this as the leaks continue and the complaints from the citizens continue. I remember in the Manifesto of the ruling party a commitment was made to increase the truck delivery of truck borne water. Go figure! ...
Post a Comment
Read more

'spinning top in mud'

It's a dark and stormy night here in the Maraval Valley. Hearing thunder in the distance, heavy drizzle, wind, cool temperature. The small 'Bajan' frogs are revving tonight creating a racket. I guess it's the rainy season and this is what you get. It is now one week since Tropical Storm Bret came over the island and for many people things have not yet gotten back to normal. Reading one of the weekly columnists today writing about his growing up in a flood prone area and basically the family taking it in their stride every rainy season. He commented on the fact that his father knew where they were living and never blamed the authorities or demanded from the authorities any compensation for the losses suffered as a result of the annual floods. It is different now and demands are made for every 'big toe bounce'  and it seems that no one takes responsibility for their lot in life. Not sure where this came from but there has to be a line as to how far a government c...
Post a Comment
Read more