Hundreds of people trying to leave Tobago were on edge yesterday, as scores of them with confirmed tickets for the Sunday afternoon sailing were left behind.
Many of them included teenagers and young adults who had travelled to Tobago for the Island Crashers weekend of non-stop partying from Thursday.
Following the cancellation of all of today’s ferry sailings, hundreds with confirmed tickets rushed to the Scarborough Port to get onto the final two sailings at 1.30 and 6 pm.
In an attempt to get on the boat, people were even seen paying drivers money to sit in their cars as they drove through security to get off the island.
Vendanand Hargobin said he had a confirmed ticket and arrived at the port after attending the Island Crashers event. He said he had been waiting in line for hours to check in only to be turned away.
“It’s a category 4 hurricane and it is scary. Being 20 years old, it’s not something I’ve experienced before and it’s uncharted territory so it’s very scary,” he said.
Hargobin also criticised the Port Authority.
“The (move by Port Authority) was very distasteful. It wasn’t thought out, it wasn’t well planned. We have hundreds waiting here to get back to Trinidad. It’s one of the busiest weeks of the entire year for Tobago.
“It’s unfair and we don’t have answers from the authority. We were just getting a runaround…I am hoping and praying because there is nothing else we can really do. Given it’s a hurricane and one of the busiest times of the year they should see it as a priority (to evacuate),” he said.
He said the most he could do having been denied entry to the boat was to hope and pray the State evacuates those stranded in Tobago.
Meanwhile, another visitor said he had a good time in Tobago and was not worried.
One teenager, who only identified himself as Darion, said, “I’m not worried, I’m not scared. It is what it is. I had a good time in Tobago, the party was nice. I’ll just go back to the family house we have here and chill out.”
During a media conference yesterday, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said things will be put in place to shuttle those stranded to shelters in the area.
“Those of you stranded and can’t get a hotel room or can’t get back to your guest room—I would think that if you are a guest at my establishment that you would be provided an extra night—if that is not possible our shelters are open to you.
“I will have technical officers from the Tobago House of Assembly, of the Tobago Emergency Management Agency at the time of 6 pm sailing, so those there we can take them to a shelter so they can be secure for the duration of the night,” Augustine assured.
