The Toco Ferry Port

[The_Honourable]

Fast Ferry Port in Toco Project

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago through the Ministry of Works and Transport has mandated the National Infrastructure Development Company Limited (NIDCO) to construct a first class road from Valencia to Toco and a new Fast Ferry Port in Toco. These initiatives will facilitate a fast alternative sea route to and from Tobago from East Trinidad and open up the entire north eastern region of Trinidad for new industrial, residential, eco-tourism and commercial development.

The Port is to be a multi-purpose facility to accommodate (in addition to the Fast Ferry Service between the islands), a Marina (pleasure crafts), a Coast Guard Facility and associated amenities. The Ferry is envisioned to accommodate cars, light commercials vehicles in addition to passengers.

[The_Honourable]

More pics

[The_Honourable]

Rowley Sudden Change of Heart on Toco Port

The incompetence of Prime Minster Dr. Keith Rowley is frightening in light of the continuing sea bridge issues affecting Tobago. The Tobago Chamber of Commerce, the Tobago Hoteliers and Tourism Association, the Tobago Truckers Association and the Tobago Unique Bed and Breakfast and Self-Catering Association have all condemned the government for its inability to rectify this persistent problem.

The Prime Minster has sought to bring relief by reaffirming the need to construct a ferry port at Toco. He has deemed this initiative as vital developmental work that will create economic activity and link the people of Tobago and Toco. Dr. Rowley clearly cannot be trusted to lead this country if he cannot stay true to his own convictions.

During a parliamentary debate on crime in the year 2000 on July 28th then opposition Member, Dr. Rowley was very critical of any activity in Toco, the following is what he said:

“The basis for this port is some Tobago to Toco ferry. Nobody in Tobago wants it; nobody in Tobago or Toco appreciates it; but that is the grease to have the product created. Do you know who is doing this? The Cabinet. By saying that it is a Tobago to Toco ferry, the Government is giving the impression that it is a public purpose and, under that category, the Government is now going to proceed to take away people’s homes to create this port. So, here we have a situation where those who are living on the land enjoying it now, protected by the law, the Government is seeking to find a mechanism to acquire their land, then give that land to other private citizens to make money. I tell you, Mr. Speaker, this Toco ferry port has nothing to do with the people of Tobago and Toco.”

The debate was on crime yet the Honorable Prime Minister saw it fit to mention the ferry, which bore no relevance to the debate.

Dr. Rowley needs to come clean and let us know what has brought about his change in position. When in Opposition he was critical of this project and declared that it was a money-making initiative by the then government. Does this change of heart allude to him or PNM financiers benefitting from this project?

National Infrastructure Development Company (NIDCO) Chairman Mr. Herbert George has estimated the proposed highway from Sangre Grande to Toco, to facilitate the ferry port, will cost tax payers as much as 5 billion dollars.

The Prime Minister needs to tell us where this funding is coming from and how much will it cost to build the ferry port as well. To date there has been no feasibility study, no cost benefit analysis and no environmental analysis to initiate construction.

This level of inconsistency and incompetence has trickled down to his government ministers where we are now seeing esteemed ministerial positions being treated like CEPEP and URP ten days projects. How can the citizenry specifically the Tobagonians expect the Keith Rowley led government to effect any change and truly run this country?

Vidia Gayadeen Gopeesingh

The EIA graphic of the 2000 version of the Toco Port

[zoom rader]

From failed trains, planes and now this rubbish.

Well enjoy the long ride to Toco

[shake d livin wake d dead]

one ah rohani brethren getting the contract

LOL @ this initiative....you expect to start this and finish by next year??

[zoom rader]

one ah rohani brethren getting the contract

LOL @ this initiative....you expect to start this and finish by next year??

Would probably cost 4billion and value for money

[randolphinshan]

one ah rohani brethren getting the contract

LOL @ this initiative....you expect to start this and finish by next year??

Would probably cost 4billion and value for money

Exactly like the failed billion dollar built SIS built waste water treatment plant that the PP bandits undertook to build ent ?

[zoom rader]

one ah rohani brethren getting the contract

LOL @ this initiative....you expect to start this and finish by next year??

Would probably cost 4billion and value for money

Exactly like the failed billion dollar built SIS built waste water treatment plant that the PP bandits undertook to build ent ?

SIS is a PNM company you ignorant moron

[fatboy slim]

one ah rohani brethren getting the contract

LOL @ this initiative....you expect to start this and finish by next year??

Would probably cost 4billion and value for money

Exactly like the failed billion dollar built SIS built waste water treatment plant that the PP bandits undertook to build ent ?

SIS is a PNM company you ignorant moron

[RedVEVO]

one ah rohani brethren getting the contract

LOL @ this initiative....you expect to start this and finish by next year??

Would probably cost 4billion and value for money

Exactly like the failed billion dollar built SIS built waste water treatment plant that the PP bandits undertook to build ent ?

SIS is a PNM company you ignorant moron

Hmm .. well I never

Didn't the owner migrate or gyrate to Canada ?

Toco is a nice place .

Toco Fairy Port .

[Rory Phoulorie]

one ah rohani brethren getting the contract

LOL @ this initiative....you expect to start this and finish by next year??

Would probably cost 4billion and value for money

Exactly like the failed billion dollar built SIS built waste water treatment plant that the PP bandits undertook to build ent ?

SIS is a PNM company you ignorant moron

ZR, I not saying you wrong because you seem to be in the know in those Point Lisas industry matters.

But SIS under the PNM in the 1990s was a small company renting equipment to do work. Under the Basdeo Panday UNC, they increased in size significantly quite quickly, formed multiple subsidiary companies (Premier Equipment, ScaffPro, Phoenix Project Management, etc.) and under the second Kamala Persad Bissessar UNC, they got a lot of very large government contracts on which their performance was average at best.

I was talking to a senior SIS employee the other day and he was saying that they don't want to take on any work from this PNM government. Why would that be if they are a PNM company?

[rspann]

I'm not saying they are a PNM company, I don't know about that,but the Rowley led PNM is different from the old PNM and they have new associates because of the new financiers. The same contractors that Rowley and alwaris touted as corrupt UNC contractors ,are now the favorites when food is in the trough.

[Redman]

one ah rohani brethren getting the contract

LOL @ this initiative....you expect to start this and finish by next year??

Would probably cost 4billion and value for money

Exactly like the failed billion dollar built SIS built waste water treatment plant that the PP bandits undertook to build ent ?

SIS is a PNM company you ignorant moron

ZR, I not saying you wrong because you seem to be in the know in those Point Lisas industry matters.

But SIS under the PNM in the 1990s was a small company renting equipment to do work. Under the Basdeo Panday UNC, they increased in size significantly quite quickly, formed multiple subsidiary companies (Premier Equipment, ScaffPro, Phoenix Project Management, etc.) and under the second Kamala Persad Bissessar UNC, they got a lot of very large government contracts on which their performance was average at best.

I was talking to a senior SIS employee the other day and he was saying that they don't want to take on any work from this PNM government. Why would that be if they are a PNM company?

Like in 2010 to present it have anything like a PNM company or a UNC company.
The distinction was, is and always will be companies that willing to play ball vs those that are not.

SIS was a big contributor to CSB campaign, and was TIGHT with Jack Warner.
They were signing contracts before them coming public- this from a signatory on some of these contracts.
They have demonstrated that they play ball- PERCEIVED party affiliation is irrelevant,except to ZR.

[shake d livin wake d dead]

Spann hit the nail on the head....younglee identified a particular company as being part of bid rigging etc etc...but all of ah sudden that same company getting billion dollar contracts to build manzan highway....is who dino related to....

[zoom rader]

one ah rohani brethren getting the contract

LOL @ this initiative....you expect to start this and finish by next year??

Would probably cost 4billion and value for money

Exactly like the failed billion dollar built SIS built waste water treatment plant that the PP bandits undertook to build ent ?

SIS is a PNM company you ignorant moron

ZR, I not saying you wrong because you seem to be in the know in those Point Lisas industry matters.

But SIS under the PNM in the 1990s was a small company renting equipment to do work. Under the Basdeo Panday UNC, they increased in size significantly quite quickly, formed multiple subsidiary companies (Premier Equipment, ScaffPro, Phoenix Project Management, etc.) and under the second Kamala Persad Bissessar UNC, they got a lot of very large government contracts on which their performance was average at best.

I was talking to a senior SIS employee the other day and he was saying that they don't want to take on any work from this PNM government. Why would that be if they are a PNM company?

Read carefully as I explain how SIS is PNM

SIS was formed in the early to mid 1980s by top Managers who ran Fertrin which is now PSC nitrogen.

All these Managers were strong PNM in those day everything was PNM.

The so called owner was La La and he was not the true owner but a figure head placed there for paper purposes.
La La was an ex Caroni employee.

The Fertrin mangers formed the company to give themselves maintenance contracts. That's why they were very silent as they did not want to link themselves to SIS.

It was perceived to be a UNC company to get the expanding contracts from the other industries when UNC ran the country.

This is how SIS came about , I spend about two years at the then Fertrin, there were other small time PNM contractors, but SIS was the main one for Fertrin

Redman knows jack chit on SIS and was in nappies when SIS formed.

[16 cycles]

^ read that and felt like is was on an old time bar with a frosty glass on puncheon listening to the old ways....

thank you

[Redman]

What does that have to do with 2010-2019?

Dated knowledge is entertaining and informative, but not necessarily relevant,accurate or germane.

[zoom rader]

What does that have to do with 2010-2019?

Dated knowledge is entertaining and informative, but not necessarily relevant,accurate or germane.

Dummy , the real owners of SIS were/are top PNM men and they milked whatever contracts they got. They did not care who was in power.

Money is money

[Redman]

What does that have to do with 2010-2019?

Dated knowledge is entertaining and informative, but not necessarily relevant,accurate or germane.

Dummy , the real owners of SIS were/are top PNM men and they milked whatever contracts they got. They did not care who was in power.

Money is money

who is the fckin idiot when you are making the point that you are arguing against?

Isnt that my point.
SIS playing ball with anyone that taking bribe.

[zoom rader]

What does that have to do with 2010-2019?

Dated knowledge is entertaining and informative, but not necessarily relevant,accurate or germane.

Dummy , the real owners of SIS were/are top PNM men and they milked whatever contracts they got. They did not care who was in power.

Money is money

who is the fckin idiot when you are making the point that you are arguing against?

Isnt that my point.
SIS playing ball with anyone that taking bribe.

Yes and then SIS gives a part of that money towards PNM cake sales

[Ben_spanna]

Balance of nature really is amazing, such a beautiful country with so much natural resources... then to balance it off the biggest thieves as politicians and a population of people who can’t even keep a sweaty paper in their car for the ride home. We,ay not been having bad natural disasters, but as far as I’m concerned the politicians have been destroying this country enough that we done need one.

[zoom rader]

Balance of nature really is amazing, such a beautiful country with so much natural resources... then to balance it off the biggest thieves as politicians and a population of people who can’t even keep a sweaty paper in their car for the ride home. We,ay not been having bad natural disasters, but as far as I’m concerned the politicians have been destroying this country enough that we done need one.

As I told another tuner, when the election candidates comes round to your house. You need to question him and see if they are worth working for you and seeking your interest.

[De Dragon]

one ah rohani brethren getting the contract

LOL @ this initiative....you expect to start this and finish by next year??

Would probably cost 4billion and value for money

Exactly like the failed billion dollar built SIS built waste water treatment plant that the PP bandits undertook to build ent ?

SIS is a PNM company you ignorant moron

ZR, I not saying you wrong because you seem to be in the know in those Point Lisas industry matters.

But SIS under the PNM in the 1990s was a small company renting equipment to do work. Under the Basdeo Panday UNC, they increased in size significantly quite quickly, formed multiple subsidiary companies (Premier Equipment, ScaffPro, Phoenix Project Management, etc.) and under the second Kamala Persad Bissessar UNC, they got a lot of very large government contracts on which their performance was average at best.

I was talking to a senior SIS employee the other day and he was saying that they don't want to take on any work from this PNM government. Why would that be if they are a PNM company?

Read carefully as I explain how SIS is PNM

SIS was formed in the early to mid 1980s by top Managers who ran Fertrin which is now PSC nitrogen.

All these Managers were strong PNM in those day everything was PNM.

The so called owner was La La and he was not the true owner but a figure head placed there for paper purposes.
La La was an ex Caroni employee.

The Fertrin mangers formed the company to give themselves maintenance contracts. That's why they were very silent as they did not want to link themselves to SIS.

It was perceived to be a UNC company to get the expanding contracts from the other industries when UNC ran the country.

This is how SIS came about , I spend about two years at the then Fertrin, there were other small time PNM contractors, but SIS was the main one for Fertrin

Redman knows jack chit on SIS and was in nappies when SIS formed.

Actually they were Arcadian in between Fertrin and PCS Nitrogen, and they are now Nutrien. When the later methanol plants came on stream and were run by Manning's blue eyed boys like Duprey, Neil Jones and Malcolm Jones, SIS was the preferred contractor for low level maintenance services. Over time they grew to be turnaround mechanical support under Proman who actually had ownership shares, along with IPSL, in SIS to ensure the loop was properly closed and maximum food eaten.
These events transcended PNM, UNC and PP and now PNM GORTT's

[zoom rader]

one ah rohani brethren getting the contract

LOL @ this initiative....you expect to start this and finish by next year??

Would probably cost 4billion and value for money

Exactly like the failed billion dollar built SIS built waste water treatment plant that the PP bandits undertook to build ent ?

SIS is a PNM company you ignorant moron

ZR, I not saying you wrong because you seem to be in the know in those Point Lisas industry matters.

But SIS under the PNM in the 1990s was a small company renting equipment to do work. Under the Basdeo Panday UNC, they increased in size significantly quite quickly, formed multiple subsidiary companies (Premier Equipment, ScaffPro, Phoenix Project Management, etc.) and under the second Kamala Persad Bissessar UNC, they got a lot of very large government contracts on which their performance was average at best.

I was talking to a senior SIS employee the other day and he was saying that they don't want to take on any work from this PNM government. Why would that be if they are a PNM company?

Read carefully as I explain how SIS is PNM

SIS was formed in the early to mid 1980s by top Managers who ran Fertrin which is now PSC nitrogen.

All these Managers were strong PNM in those day everything was PNM.

The so called owner was La La and he was not the true owner but a figure head placed there for paper purposes.
La La was an ex Caroni employee.

The Fertrin mangers formed the company to give themselves maintenance contracts. That's why they were very silent as they did not want to link themselves to SIS.

It was perceived to be a UNC company to get the expanding contracts from the other industries when UNC ran the country.

This is how SIS came about , I spend about two years at the then Fertrin, there were other small time PNM contractors, but SIS was the main one for Fertrin

Redman knows jack chit on SIS and was in nappies when SIS formed.

Actually they were Arcadian in between Fertrin and PCS Nitrogen, and they are now Nutrien. When the later methanol plants came on stream and were run by Manning's blue eyed boys like Duprey, Neil Jones and Malcolm Jones, SIS was the preferred contractor for low level maintenance services. Over time they grew to be turnaround mechanical support under Proman who actually had ownership shares, along with IPSL, in SIS to ensure the loop was properly closed and maximum food eaten.
These events transcended PNM, UNC and PP and now PNM GORTT's

That's how PNM got money for cake sales.

Alot of these dumbos on tuner don't know how SIS came about and it being a PNM company .

[De Dragon]

one ah rohani brethren getting the contract

LOL @ this initiative....you expect to start this and finish by next year??

Would probably cost 4billion and value for money

Exactly like the failed billion dollar built SIS built waste water treatment plant that the PP bandits undertook to build ent ?

SIS is a PNM company you ignorant moron

ZR, I not saying you wrong because you seem to be in the know in those Point Lisas industry matters.

But SIS under the PNM in the 1990s was a small company renting equipment to do work. Under the Basdeo Panday UNC, they increased in size significantly quite quickly, formed multiple subsidiary companies (Premier Equipment, ScaffPro, Phoenix Project Management, etc.) and under the second Kamala Persad Bissessar UNC, they got a lot of very large government contracts on which their performance was average at best.

I was talking to a senior SIS employee the other day and he was saying that they don't want to take on any work from this PNM government. Why would that be if they are a PNM company?

Read carefully as I explain how SIS is PNM

SIS was formed in the early to mid 1980s by top Managers who ran Fertrin which is now PSC nitrogen.

All these Managers were strong PNM in those day everything was PNM.

The so called owner was La La and he was not the true owner but a figure head placed there for paper purposes.
La La was an ex Caroni employee.

The Fertrin mangers formed the company to give themselves maintenance contracts. That's why they were very silent as they did not want to link themselves to SIS.

It was perceived to be a UNC company to get the expanding contracts from the other industries when UNC ran the country.

This is how SIS came about , I spend about two years at the then Fertrin, there were other small time PNM contractors, but SIS was the main one for Fertrin

Redman knows jack chit on SIS and was in nappies when SIS formed.

Actually they were Arcadian in between Fertrin and PCS Nitrogen, and they are now Nutrien. When the later methanol plants came on stream and were run by Manning's blue eyed boys like Duprey, Neil Jones and Malcolm Jones, SIS was the preferred contractor for low level maintenance services. Over time they grew to be turnaround mechanical support under Proman who actually had ownership shares, along with IPSL, in SIS to ensure the loop was properly closed and maximum food eaten.
These events transcended PNM, UNC and PP and now PNM GORTT's

That's how PNM got money for cake sales.

Alot of these dumbos on tuner don't know how SIS came about and it being a PNM company .

Hearsay in the early days was that SIS was only fronted by Lalla to appease the Indos in Central. The real power was said to be behind the throne, or boardroom as it were.

[l33t2]

Would probably cost 4billion and value for money

Exactly like the failed billion dollar built SIS built waste water treatment plant that the PP bandits undertook to build ent ?

SIS is a PNM company you ignorant moron

ZR, I not saying you wrong because you seem to be in the know in those Point Lisas industry matters.

But SIS under the PNM in the 1990s was a small company renting equipment to do work. Under the Basdeo Panday UNC, they increased in size significantly quite quickly, formed multiple subsidiary companies (Premier Equipment, ScaffPro, Phoenix Project Management, etc.) and under the second Kamala Persad Bissessar UNC, they got a lot of very large government contracts on which their performance was average at best.

I was talking to a senior SIS employee the other day and he was saying that they don't want to take on any work from this PNM government. Why would that be if they are a PNM company?

Read carefully as I explain how SIS is PNM

SIS was formed in the early to mid 1980s by top Managers who ran Fertrin which is now PSC nitrogen.

All these Managers were strong PNM in those day everything was PNM.

The so called owner was La La and he was not the true owner but a figure head placed there for paper purposes.
La La was an ex Caroni employee.

The Fertrin mangers formed the company to give themselves maintenance contracts. That's why they were very silent as they did not want to link themselves to SIS.

It was perceived to be a UNC company to get the expanding contracts from the other industries when UNC ran the country.

This is how SIS came about , I spend about two years at the then Fertrin, there were other small time PNM contractors, but SIS was the main one for Fertrin

Redman knows jack chit on SIS and was in nappies when SIS formed.

Actually they were Arcadian in between Fertrin and PCS Nitrogen, and they are now Nutrien. When the later methanol plants came on stream and were run by Manning's blue eyed boys like Duprey, Neil Jones and Malcolm Jones, SIS was the preferred contractor for low level maintenance services. Over time they grew to be turnaround mechanical support under Proman who actually had ownership shares, along with IPSL, in SIS to ensure the loop was properly closed and maximum food eaten.
These events transcended PNM, UNC and PP and now PNM GORTT's

That's how PNM got money for cake sales.

Alot of these dumbos on tuner don't know how SIS came about and it being a PNM company .

Hearsay in the early days was that SIS was only fronted by Lalla to appease the Indos in Central. The real power was said to be behind the throne, or boardroom as it were.

Doesn't this just mean SIS was playing both sides? Also, what about the UNC small time contractors that SIS used? I know a guy personally who has boosted several times of making $4M profit of SIS jobs. Obviously small money in the grand scheme, but keep in mind this guy was 25 back then and had a degree in management. Seems like PP just used SIS to handout contracts to their people.

[De Dragon]

Actually SIS might have overplayed their hand, and thus they seem inextricably linked to the UNC. I don't even know if they're a national player anymore, or if they're relegated to "just" The Estate, which is still no small potatoes, don't get me wrong.

[Ben_spanna]

wouldn't it be funny is theres a link between this same company and the 3 TOP drug kings!

just saying..

[zoom rader]

Would probably cost 4billion and value for money

Exactly like the failed billion dollar built SIS built waste water treatment plant that the PP bandits undertook to build ent ?

SIS is a PNM company you ignorant moron

ZR, I not saying you wrong because you seem to be in the know in those Point Lisas industry matters.

But SIS under the PNM in the 1990s was a small company renting equipment to do work. Under the Basdeo Panday UNC, they increased in size significantly quite quickly, formed multiple subsidiary companies (Premier Equipment, ScaffPro, Phoenix Project Management, etc.) and under the second Kamala Persad Bissessar UNC, they got a lot of very large government contracts on which their performance was average at best.

I was talking to a senior SIS employee the other day and he was saying that they don't want to take on any work from this PNM government. Why would that be if they are a PNM company?

Read carefully as I explain how SIS is PNM

SIS was formed in the early to mid 1980s by top Managers who ran Fertrin which is now PSC nitrogen.

All these Managers were strong PNM in those day everything was PNM.

The so called owner was La La and he was not the true owner but a figure head placed there for paper purposes.
La La was an ex Caroni employee.

The Fertrin mangers formed the company to give themselves maintenance contracts. That's why they were very silent as they did not want to link themselves to SIS.

It was perceived to be a UNC company to get the expanding contracts from the other industries when UNC ran the country.

This is how SIS came about , I spend about two years at the then Fertrin, there were other small time PNM contractors, but SIS was the main one for Fertrin

Redman knows jack chit on SIS and was in nappies when SIS formed.

Actually they were Arcadian in between Fertrin and PCS Nitrogen, and they are now Nutrien. When the later methanol plants came on stream and were run by Manning's blue eyed boys like Duprey, Neil Jones and Malcolm Jones, SIS was the preferred contractor for low level maintenance services. Over time they grew to be turnaround mechanical support under Proman who actually had ownership shares, along with IPSL, in SIS to ensure the loop was properly closed and maximum food eaten.
These events transcended PNM, UNC and PP and now PNM GORTT's

That's how PNM got money for cake sales.

Alot of these dumbos on tuner don't know how SIS came about and it being a PNM company .

Hearsay in the early days was that SIS was only fronted by Lalla to appease the Indos in Central. The real power was said to be behind the throne, or boardroom as it were.

The heads at Fertrin at that time was all PNM appointed folk, who gave themselves contracts via lala in the plant.

In each PNM plant there is always PNM folk giving themselves contracts.
In Ispat/mittal streel they used R Rampersad, a known PNM big wig. He was also responsible for setting up Panday rape case via his outside woman

[The_Honourable]

Five-part series on the Toco Port – Part One

TOCO'S DEJA VU

THE Dr Keith Rowley-led People's National Movement (PNM) Government is pressing ahead with a multibillion- dollar Toco port and highway project which they castigated when the United National Congress (UNC) was in office.

Are there any winners in a project they claim will give Toco and the north east the development they crave? Is there a cost to the character of the village, beaches, environment; and will it impact on critically endangered leatherback turtles?

On the ground, people are wondering why they should travel for two hours or more, depending on where one lives, to board a ferry to Tobago?

In a series of articles, MARK MEREDITH investigates the return of the Toco port and the issues surrounding it.

Part I

NOTHING much has changed on the wild coast of Toco since 2000.

The cycle of life has continued turning as it always has done, as reliable as the rough seas, constant as tides and the changing of the seasons; a delicate balance of man and nature coexisting in an area of special beauty held dear to so many Trinidadians.

It was this symbiotic relationship between the residents of Toco and their environment that led to their memorable victory in 2000 over a private consortium (Worldwide Traders International) which had planned to build a multi-purpose port, all with the blessing of the UNC government.

Without prior discussions with the residents of Toco, they had planned to bury Toco's Grande L'Anse Bay beneath the concrete of a huge industrial port that would accommodate offshore bunkering, oil industry servicing, a long-lining fishing fleet and processing facility, a cruise ship hub, a marina, and the ferry.

The port would also swallow up 17 hectares of private residences through land acquisition, even two churches and a cemetery. The very fabric of Toco would be destroyed, its soul torn out.

The plan was championed by Basdeo Panday's UNC administration which backed the project idea of transforming this sleepy corner of Trinidad into a 'future Gold Coast', and a 'successful business/enterprise zone'.

The document proposal for the port stated: 'The project could become the centre of development for the eastern half of Trinidad as the city of Port of Spain was for the centre of development for the East-West Corridor and the western/southern region of Trinidad.'

ROWLEY'S ABOUT FACE

Does any of this sound familiar? It should.

'The socio-economic benefits of the establishment of a ferry port are varied and significant and will enable sustained development of the region on a scale not unlike the development that took place in Point Lisas in the 1970s... the improved road access to Toco and the Toco Ferry Port projects therefore have huge economic and symbiotic relationships particularly for agriculture, fishing and tourism...'

This was Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley's claim in an address to the Joint Consultative Council for the Construction Industry on January 16, 2018.

Eighteen years earlier, however, Rowley, then of the PNM opposition, was singing from a very different song sheet, as this address to Parliament shows: 'The basis for this port is some Tobago-to-Toco ferry. Nobody in Tobago wants it; nobody in Tobago or Toco appreciates it; but that is the grease to have the product created. Do you know who is doing this? The Cabinet.

'By saying that it is a Tobago- to-Toco ferry, the Government is giving the impression that it is a public purpose and, under that category, the Government is now going to proceed to take away people's homes to create this port... I tell you, Mr Speaker, this Toco ferry port has nothing to do with the people of Tobago and Toco.'

UNKNOWN COST

The Rowley Government's plans for a Toco port they once derided are now well advanced. The PNM's about-face has turned full circle with the scale of their port model echoing that of the 2000 version in terms of size and many of the services planned.

Like its predecessor, the 2019 edition is very much more than a ferry port service to Tobago with bunkering, marinas, 'mega yacht' berthing, oil and gas sector servicing, coastguard facilities, new fishing facilities and a hotel all planned at taxpayers' expense– how much it will cost is unknown because of a request for confidentiality made to the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) by Nidco, the State agency charged with its construction.

The result is that its enormous footprint will be just as devastating to the natural environment of Toco, and beyond, as the castigated 2000 edition. Of special concern is the nesting place where leatherback turtles gather at Galera Point, directly in the path of the proposed shipping lanes.

The Sunday Express has information that a unique coral habitat will be lost forever.

Also, that Mission Beach, 'one of many in Toco' used by turtles for nesting and an important hub of village life in Toco and Mission villages, will be swept away by the new coastal dynamics that will alter Toco Bay with the advent of dredging, a port and 340-metre breakwater.

We have also been given information that an offshore bunkering operation (the refuelling of oil tankers at sea) will form part of an undisclosed 'second phase' of the Toco development in an area of exposed, rough water-and we have not been able to obtain a straight answer from Nidco or the Ministry of Energy on this.

The sod has been turned for the road which will service the port, a highway from Valencia to Toco (at a cost varying between $2 billion and $5 billion, according to Works Minister Rohan Sinanan), and work has begun on sections excised from the need for Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) requirements by the EMA.

This is before any approvals have been given for the proposed port, which is the reason given for the existence of the road.

EXTINCTION PLAN?

And, although the Government has flagged the 2019 edition of the Toco Port and Ferry Project since 2015, the people of Toco, as was the case in 2000, had not been consulted about the transformation of their lives until the last minute; in this case this April.

Even the information put out by Nidco and its design and EIA consultants, is questionable at best. And the process by which the development is being followed is flawed, according to specialists the Sunday Express has spoken to.

As was the case in 2000, this newspaper has sought opinion from professionals in the energy industry and marine industry, as well as scientific and environmental experts. Their verdict on the wisdom of this proposal flies in the face of Government claims for the project.

The sense of déjà vu for the people of Toco must be overwhelming. Yes, time has, in many ways, stood still in Toco and its environs. Their road south is even worse than it was 19 years ago. They still lack basic services such as water: a 'long history (since 1969) of acute water shortages'; and, the Sunday Express has been told, WASA cannot even meet their needs today, far less the requirements of a large multi-purpose port.

They also lack a bank, reliable Internet connection, educational opportunities, housing. And they complained about the lack of these services at the consultation on April 12, 2019.

It was clear from that meeting that many are so desperate to reverse decades of neglect from successive governments that they are willing to countenance what they so vehemently rejected 19 years ago.

While Extinction Rebellion demonstrations erupt in cities abroad at the threat to our way of life from climate change and ecological catastrophe, in Trinidad, critics argue, the authorities are moving ahead with an extinction plan all of their own.

CONCERNS ON PUBLIC RECORD

Comments on the Terms of Reference (TOR) which guide the port EIA are in the CEC application file and run to many pages.

Here are some of those concerns from citizens of Toco, Trinidad, scientists and NGOs.

From residents of Toco and elsewhere in Trinidad:

- 'I am flabbergasted as to why such a beautiful location as Grande L'Anse Bay with calm blue waters, and a huge stretch of white sandy beach was chosen to be destroyed to construct a port... seawater would be polluted by the boats docking in the area... beach goers would have to bathe in water polluted with human faeces, diesel, oil and garbage discharged by these boats.'

- 'Government is proposing to embark on a project that is impractical, unnecessary, unwanted, and will involve large-scale capital expenditure at a time when revenues are unable to sustain recurrent expenditure, far less non-viable capital projects.'

- 'This project must be stopped before massive expenditures are started with major environmental impacts to the detriment of our national economy and the environment. Hence the 'do nothing' alternative is the preferred option.'

- 'Since childhood, and for years, I have always gone to Grande L'Anse Bay to take a sea bath and it would really be devastating if this pristine beach was destroyed by construction of this port.'

- 'What we certainly would appreciate is sustainable development.'

- 'The majority of persons in our community think favourably 'in principle' of having a port for the Tobago ferry service located in Toco. Having said that, it cannot be overstated that the overwhelming majority of us are not in favour of such a large scale project as the one which has been proposed.'

- 'Our village was shocked to learn of the metamorphosis, that has affected what was initially marketed to and accepted by the majority of the residents of our village, as a simple ferry port. It seems the ministry and others have begun this so-called consultative process by being less than forthright with the residents of our community.'

- 'Having consulted the present plans and maps one can only conclude that many people will have to move... Many of these families have called Toco home for numerous generations.'

- 'Only a small percentage of the Toco community is aware that a copy of these plans has been sent to the community.'

- 'We are of the view that the inevitable discharge of petrochemical and other pollutants would have an irreversibly deleterious impact upon the marine environment-not only here in Toco itself but along the entire north coast of Trinidad.'

- 'Toco is regarded by many as one of the few remaining relatively pristine areas in the island. One of the ironies of the current prospect is that these plans will entail the destruction (or at least damage of) the very assets the area has to offer to tourists and visitors.'

- 'If you just consider Grande L'Anse Bay alone: the eel grass beds there boast unusual species such as mantis shrimp, flying gumard and long-nosed bat fish, while in the immediate vicinity on land there are jacamars, pearl kites and red-legged honeycreepers.'

“All such plans should be in harmony with Nature, not domination over it . . .”

From scientists and NGOs:

- 'Unfortunately, our country has already experienced significant negative effects to the coastal environment due to similar port development... this should be a lesson learnt and taken into consideration for future coastal development plans such as what is being proposed for the Toco area.'

- 'The marine biodiversity at Grande L'Anse, the proposed location for this facility, will require destruction of a biodiverse area. The EMA has stated that the contribution of biodiversity to the economic and social well-being of T& T's citizens is undeniably significant... if an exemption is made to sacrifice a biodiverse area for a service, then when will decisions involving a loss of environmental area stop? If we compromise now, what will this suggest to our future generations as to what our attitudes are for our environment?'

- 'We are not sure enough justification is there to construct a port at Toco; given the cost, the impact on the area's natural environment, and importantly the effect on the North East coast's human community especially Toco.'

- 'The economic feasibility is suspect. A port at Toco is eminently impractical based on the lack of adequate (or enough) accessible hinterland.'

- 'We are concerned that the spend to improve the sea bridge to facilitate tourism between the sister isles will not produce the expected gains. Where is the offset revenue to come from? Tourism? Hardly.'

- 'There is also the matter of 'safe harbour' a term that has never been applied to Toco. Grande L'Anse Bay is a harsh place to site a port-it features a lee shore constantly battered by seaspray from the prevailing Tradewinds, and massive incoming swells originating from far East Atlantic.'

- 'Tobagonians go to Trinidad to shop (in Charlotte Street or Chaguanas), seek medical care (in POS or St Augustine mainly), or for matters to do with education. Toco in that sense adds to the time it will take for them to do their business.'

GOODBYE TO FUN TIMES?: Swimming in Grande L'Anse Bay-this activity will disappear when the port is built.

Tomorrow: Return of Toco Port- the lack of consultations and flawed processes.

Source: https://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/lo ... 917a8.html