Commuters using the Water Taxi service may soon have to shell out $5 more per trip. The hike in the fare is now under consideration by the National Infrastructure Development Company (Nidco) which operates the service, which costs $15 one-way. Nidco president Dr Carson Charles hinted yesterday at the imminent price hike when he spoke with reporters after the opening of the spanking new $15 million San Fernando Water-Taxi Terminal at King's Wharf.
Charles said Nidco is operating the service under financial strain. "Government decides how much subsidy it provides and our job is to run the best service we can for the finances made available," he said. Charles, however, said the costs are mounting to keep the water taxi running and a price increase is one way to bridge the gap.
"The fares have been raised before...There has been suggestion of raising it from $15 to $20, but it is under discussion," he said. "We did some surveys that suggested it is not too much trouble. But it involves money. People would not want to pay much money. I think we may eventually raise it from $15 to $20. It is not much of an increase."
Newly-appointed Transport Minister Chandresh Sharma was also on hand yesterday to open the new facility which formed part of his tour of agencies in San Fernando under his portfolio. Sharma also toured the Public Transportation Service Corporation (PTSC) bus terminus at King's Wharf and the San Fernando Licensing Office at Pleasantville. He also said the water taxi service was a strain on Government's finances.
Sharma said he will be meeting with Nidco next week "to review where we are" with the service. "There are hard decisions that have to be made but they have to be made in the interest of everyone...We are the representatives of the taxpayers," he said. This week Nidco decided to cut off-peak water taxi sailings. Effective Monday, July 9, the water taxi will have sailings from San Fernando at 6 am, 6.45 am and 8 am, with one afternoon sailing at 4.30.
The 9.30 am sailing has been discontinued. The new scheduled departures from Port-of-Spain will be 7 am and 3.30 pm, 4.30 pm and 5.30 pm. Nidco has also cut the 2.30 pm sailing. "We think it is wonderful to offer the service but quite frankly there are alternatives. In the peak period you are avoiding traffic by using the water taxi but off-peak people do not get the service so, it is not a big loss," Charles said.
He maintained that the changes were necessary. "There is a financial pressure on the service," he said. "It is highly subsided and there is a pressure on it and therefore we have to find ways to lower the costs of the sailings."
