Tobago Correspondent
Masqueraders heading to Tobago Carnival are facing a transportation nightmare, with ferry tickets for several key dates sold out less than 24 hours after going on sale.
This comes as flights to Tobago from October 27-30 have also been sold out while return flights are unavailable from November 2-4.
On Tuesday, the Trinidad and Tobago Interisland Ferry Service released the sailing schedule for October, showing just one passenger ferry operational.
The MV Golden Carrier cargo boat is the only other vessel in service next month.
Less than 24 hours after tickets went live, there were no available seats on sailings from Port-of-Spain to Scarborough from October 27-30.
Tickets for sailings from Scarborough to Port-of-Spain were also sold out from November 2-4.
The annual festival, which gets under way from October 30 to November 1, is a major event on the island’s tourism calendar.
Close to 40,000 revellers arrived in Tobago for last year’s festival, with 22,000 transported on the seabridge.
A group of friends who had planned the trip for close to a year left the port empty-handed and frustrated yesterday.
Marcus, who hails from Arima, said thousands of dollars had already been spent on a down payment for their accommodation, J’Ouvert costumes and fete tickets.
The October schedule has left him, and many others, bemused as there are just six additional sailings, compared to 22 in 2025.
The Buccoo Reef fast ferry and Galleons Passage are not on the October schedule, leaving only the APT James and the Golden Carrier cargo vessel listed for service.
As his girlfriend waited in the long line at the port, Marcus said the group had tried to purchase tickets online, but were unsuccessful.
“I done come to terms with the fact (that we not going through).
“They need to do better and put things in place. This is madness.”
He believes the negative experience would dampen the carnival and deter future revellers.
Tobago Promoters Association head Kevon McKenna told Guardian Media he is concerned, but is leaving it to the authorities to rectify.
“I would defer to the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) who has an element of transportation under its remit in ensuring that we receive the increased air and sea transportation that is required,” he said.
Meanwhile, other fete stakeholders noted the arrival of passengers is not the only cause for concern.
One promoter said Tobago does not have the capacity to provide certain equipment and other infrastructure for the carnival.
“We have a number of service providers from Trinidad. The 40-foot music trailer trucks have to come up on the boat,” he said.
Opposition Senator Melanie Roberts-Radgman has called for the immediate intervention of Secretary of Tourism Zorisha Hackett, adding that the Tobago People’s Party’s closeness with central government was not benefiting Tobago.
“What is the purpose of all this friendship and alliances with the cronies in Trinidad if simple entitlements like these cannot be secured for Tobago?” she asked.
In a media release yesterday, Tourism Secretary Zorisha Hackett said she has spoken to Works and Infrastructure Minister Jearlean John to express her concerns about the schedule and has advocated for additional sailings.
Hackett revealed that John has acknowledged the concerns and promised to get back to her on the matter.
Guardian Media sent questions to the Port Authority and Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John about the status of the other passenger vessels for the carnival, but there was no response up to the time of publication.
