An interim arrangement to continue ferry operations with the management of MV Caribe Sun are in place until April 6.
According to officials, the contract with the ferry operator M&M Transporation out of St. Kitts expired on March 31, 2016. As a new agreement had not been signed, Captain Prince Mills declined to run the ferry on Friday until this was done. This left more than 30 passengers stranded. Many made arrangements to take a flight.
An agreement was reached shortly after noon on April 1, which allowed the ferry to leave in the afternoon and return on the regular scheduled service in the evening.
David Duberry, Access Coordinator from the Ministry of Communications & Works said a breakdown in communications caused the issue. Discover has learned that a contract was ready to be signed, however officials from the Office of the Premier declined at the final hour to not meet with the captain and to follow through with the agreement as is.
Hon. Opposition Easton Taylor-Farrell said the Hon. Premier Donaldson Premier was interfering in the ministries of his others ministers. Citing a visit by representatives under the instructions of the premier to the Bahamas to discuss engaging a ferry there without the knowledge of the Hon. Minister of MCW Paul Lewis.
Any new agreement will include a set of performance indicators which were not identified in previous contracts, according to sources.
