By Sue-Ann Wayow
SEVERAL cruise liners in the past few months have been requesting permission to dock at Trinidad and Tobago for the purpose of refuelling with one recent request being made by Marella Explorer2 owned by Marella cruises.
Chief executive officer of Carvalho’s Agencies Charles, Carvalho has written to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley asking for permission for the ship to receive its fuel supply.
In a letter which was delivered to Dr Rowley on Monday, Carvalho stated that discussions with the Ministry of National Security centred around the Public Health Regulations which states, “All air and seaports or any place where an aircraft or ship or vessel can land shall, except in relation to air and sea cargo, remain closed to the arrival or departure of aircraft or ships or other vessels carrying passengers unless permitted by the Minister with responsibility for national security.”
The letter states, “We have been in communication with the Ministry via the attached letter dated January 14, 2022, followed by a series of phone calls all of last week, in which we have been told that the said ministry does not grant such permission. Accordingly, can you guide us to where we seek permission from?”
On January 14, Carvalho wrote to the Ministry of National Security Permanent Secretary Nataki Atiba-Dilchan making the request for the Mirella Explorer2 to undertake the necessary bunkering at Pointe-a-Pierre with Paria Fuel Trading Co Ltd being the fuel supplier, following the request made by the liner that same day.
A copy of the letter was also sent to Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds and Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell.
Last week, Carvalho met with Tobago’s Secretary of the Division of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation Tashia Burris to discuss the possibility of cruise liners being allowed on the island.
He told AZPNews.com, “I am not happy to report that Tobago has seen the devastating effects on the loss of income for the people who heavily depend on the Tourism Industry and they are steadfast in resolving the continued ban on cruise ships to Trinidad and Tobago in particular Tobago. In this regard, we came up with a ten-point plan that she would present to the Central Government in Trinidad with suggestions that we hope would assist in the immediate returning of cruise ships to the island of Tobago.”
