The transportation links between Tobago and Trinidad are as important to the financial well-being of the twin-island state as the transportation links between San Fernando and Port-of-Spain or Port-of-Spain and Sangre Grande. It is imperative that people should be able to travel between the two islands quickly, efficiently and cheaply as they go about their business, proceed to one or the other island on vacation or travel between the islands to conduct their personal, educational, health or other matters.
The critical nature of the transport links between Tobago and Trinidad means that these links must be given a high priority by policymakers. We make these points against the backdrop of a disturbing report in yesterday's Guardian that an electricity failure in Scarborough on Saturday caused a long delay in some passengers exiting one of the inter-island ferries that transport people and cargo between the two islands.
The electricity problem also caused the cancellation of at least one flight from Trinidad to Tobago.
Aside from the inconvenience suffered by the ferry and aircraft passengers, this breach in the transport bridge between the two islands must be seen as a wake-up call to the Government. We agree with Minister of Tobago Development Vernella Alleyne-Toppin, who told this newspaper, in reaction to the temporary breakdowns, that Saturday's situation has grave implications for Tobago.
"It is critical that we have an efficient lighting system at the airport since this has implications for conventions such as meeting FAA regulations. "Tobago is a tourism economy so when planes have to turn back it affects our market where bookings, ground transport arrangements and other affiliated matters are concerned in a domino effect. "We need to ensure free-flowing systems are in place since we have patients coming to Trinidad by air.
"Our port generators must also have an automatic switch-over power system when emergencies arise."
Tobago must be given the equipment that it needs to ensure that critical elements of the transportation links between the two islands are able to operate under situations of extreme emergency. This must mean that both the port and the airport are provided with back-up generators that will immediately kick-in when the main power supply is cut off.
It must mean that the Airports Authority board, which has been in place for some time now, treats the issue of the contract for the upgrading of the runway lighting system at the Crown Point Airport in Tobago with some urgency. This is necessary given the critical importance of tourism to the Tobago economy, the fact that the winter tourism high-season in Tobago is due to begin tomorrow, and the fact that there does not appear to have been any controversy surrounding the Tobago contract.
If for any reason the runway lights fail during the high season and aircraft from international destinations are diverted to other Caribbean countries, it will be the Airports Authority board that must accept responsibility.
While it is understandable that Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner may have adopted an exasperated tone when he answered a reporter on Sunday, he has a responsibility to drive the process of ensuring that the contract to fix the runway lights at both Piarco and Crown Point is granted as soon as possible.
The Government's public relations machinery also needs to disclose what became of the review of the contracts that was ordered by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and what is a realistic timeframe for these contracts to be awarded. Finally, the comment from Mrs Alleyne-Toppin that Tobago has been experiencing many more electricity outages since the construction on the Cove Industrial Estate project began is also worrying and worthy of some attention by the policymakers in both islands.If that is indeed the case, some effort needs to be paid in strengthening the electricity supply to Tobago.