Tourism And Transport Minister Visits Dockyard

August 13, 2014

Earlier today [Aug 13] the Minister of Tourism Development and Transport Shawn Crockwell visited Dockyard to assess the new visitor transport system in place for cruise ship passengers, which has been the subject of news reports recently, with some complaints being registered over long waiting time.

The Minister was joined by the Permanent Secretary for Tourism Development and Transport, Mr. Francis Richardson, Mr. Andrew Dias, General Manager of WEDCo and Mr. Raymond Charlton, Board Chairman of WEDCo.

minister in dockyard aug 14 (2)

Minister Crockwell along with WEDCo representatives took the opportunity to provide a comprehensive update on the new beach shuttle service to members of the media who were also on hand in Dockyard.

During the briefing, Minister Crockwell said, “I wanted to see firsthand the improvements that were made to our transportation system in Dockyard since last week.

“Although the inclement weather has played a role in reducing transport demands, once the weather cleared this morning and the masses came off of the ships, I can happily report that everything ran smoothly which suggests that significant progress has been made. The taxi drivers and minibus operators that I spoke to were positive about the new initiative.

“I am confident that the transport situation in Dockyard will continue to be handled well.”

minister in dockyard aug 14 (1)

Following the briefing, the Minister, the Permanent Secretary and WEDco representatives visited businesses in the Clocktower Mall and also took the opportunity to observe the new shuttle service and talk to taxi operators servicing Heritage Wharf.

“The Minister paid close attention to what mode of transportation our visitors were opting to take out of Dockyard, and how easy they were able to be accommodated,” added a spokesperson.

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Articles that link to this one:

  1. PLP: We Need Visitor Transportation Solution | Bernews.com | August 15, 2014
  1. Movement of Jah People says:

    Greatstuff Minister!
    Taxi drivers and Minibus drivers getting a share of the pie.Good work!

    • Black Soil says:

      There is PLENTY of work for EVERYONE.

      • Peggy says:

        What were the bus lines like? I don’t want a shuttle – I don’t only want to go to the beach.

        Can anyone tell me if I can pay for the shuttle one way or must it be round trip.

    • Kunta says:

      The amount of $$$ these guys make for what they do, reminds me of de Peter Tosh song, Everybody talking bout Crime but tell me who are de Criminals !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. mixitup says:

    So you shake the hands of the people who have had no transport issues? When you should be on the phone with the ones who did… Dang photo op’s!

  3. watching says:

    The Photo Op Government.
    Bet he was nowhere to be seen when the lines were long!

    • GPS says:

      What I want to know is Premier Dunkely intending on keeping Crockwell when he shuffles the Cabinet. Pet and Can did the right think and left. Croc’s may be thinking I already served my time boys. I’m not going anywhere plus I have know idea who was the other man on the Jetgate plane.

    • hmmm says:

      Were they long????? where is your proof?

  4. Terry says:

    Very true another photo op.

    Now lets see one of the Minister responsible for Works shaking hands with Garbage collectors that did a fine job dahn heast hand.

    Irony.
    It never changes but some is better .

    • Lana Adcock says:

      They did a “fine” job when they felt like-why didn’t they do that last week instead of leaving it all weekend??!!

    • hmmm says:

      It was people from highways they should shake the hands of.

  5. Varied is good says:

    Did he talk with any of the bus operators or supervisors while making his rounds?

    More of the same glossing over by TPTB.

  6. Robert says:

    Politics at its best or its worst, you choose ..smfh !!!!

  7. somuchless says:

    When he shoulda been around (last week) he wasn’t. Smh Someone tell me the excuse was that he was off island. Lolol

  8. Robert says:

    Francis richaardson, im shocked that you took part in this bad show but on by the oba !!! Stand up and be counted.

  9. Robert says:

    *put*

  10. Coffee says:

    He has certainly spent a lot of time in that area .

    • jt says:

      Give you credit for that one Coffee. ;)

      But it is refreshing to see a Minister actually out and about with real people.

  11. Impressive says:

    knowing the weather of the past few days, and also by the photos above, it seems difficult to me to assess the advantages of a new “system”, when it hasn’t been fully tested. However, thats just me.. In this instance, it probably would have been more advantageous to release a press statement highlighting the changes made with a bulletin that could have been specifically addressed to the cruise ship lines, the travel agents that manage the day to day activities, and the magazines and newsletters. In a nutshell, a pointless photo op which is a waste of time.

  12. Triangle Drifter says:

    Be damned if they do get an in person look. Be damned if they don’t. No win either way.

    Here we are at the end of the season. Some schools in the US went back in this week. The rest go back in the next couple of weeks.

    Bermuda thinks it has solved the transport problem just as demand is slipping away for another year.

  13. On de Hill says:

    No matter what the Government do the critics will complain. If the Minister never went to see how the progress was going the critics would have complained, he goes to see for himself, the critics complain. Keep working OBA! That’s how you solve a problem.

    • Varied is good says:

      No, you solve a problem by doing your due diligence, having the proper conversations and implementing agreed-upon solutions. Not by photo-ops a week after the issue came about.

      OBA (and the stakeholders for public transport) has a lot of work to do to sort out the transportation situations both for visitors and locals.

    • Raymond Ray says:

      @ On de Hill: You are sooooo right…But more importantly, “keep working O.B.A!” That’s how you’ll solve not just a problem but multiple problems.

  14. Alvin Williams says:

    Long way from the statement’ the lines were not that long despite what my lying eyes told me.
    Far from this government to miss a photo-op opportunity; attempting once again to fool the Bermudian people.
    Look for the minister of public works to be standing at the back of a garbage truck to convince Bermuda that she is doing her job; although the smell is unlikely to deter her from missing a photo-op opportunity.

  15. Family Man says:

    Why don’t our tourism professionals wear Bermuda’s national attire?

    Don’t just leave it to the guys in Detroit or Flint Michigan, to put on a Bermuda show. You represent Bermuda. Dress like it.

    Or leave.

    If you don’t like to wear Bermuda’s national dress, find another job. Tourism obviously isn’t for you.

    • somuchless says:

      I’ve thought the same thing but who am I to question.

    • Derek A. G. Jones says:

      Family Man, I have to agree. When pressing the flesh, especially with visitors, our politicians should relish the opportunity to get out of the suits and lighten up with a pair of shorts, short sleeve shirt and just a tie. No jackets required. The visitors would get a kick out of it and seeing as it’s the middle of August so should the ministers.

    • Creamy says:

      I agree. All this suit wearing started with Brown.

    • PBanks says:

      Who among the current crop of MPs tend to wear Bermuda shorts while making rounds?

      Michael Dunkley does it now, Derrick Burgess does it, who else?

  16. X man says:

    Now this is what I like to see – this is the second time that I have seen the Minister of Tourism greeting our Visitors.
    The first time was over at Gombeys Beach Club,Southside St.Davids were he made a splash with the ETA Harley Bike
    Tour Group and now at the Dock Yard. – he’s at work- and this what he was voted in for.
    Minister Crockwell is not doing nothing new – The ex Mayor and now St.Georges MP Kenney Bascomb is always
    on the St.Georges Square meeting and greeting Visitors that come to Bermuda.

    Hey Minister Crockwell – loosen up and put on a Polo Shirt and some Shorts with knee high socks. — come on now
    you know the drill!

  17. Rockfish#1 says:

    The Minister decides to do us a favour. After the horse has bolted, he drives to Dockyard in our car, to have his picture taken.
    All that was missing were the police outriders!

  18. Kindley says:

    I don’t understand the fuss. Bermuda should want the best service for the visitors. Good experience brings people back. Time is precious when you are a visitor so not having a long wait to visit a beautiful beach is a no brainer.

  19. Rick Olson says:

    How about an improved and EXPANDED ferry service soour visitors will actually spend some money !!

  20. Garrus says:

    Huge line ups as of 11am today. No politicians or Wedco chiefs in sight.

    • Varied is good says:

      looks like the Tourism and Transport Minister missed the boat, so to speak

  21. street wise says:

    What are all these new private buses & minivans going to do during the off-season? Our tourist season has shrunk to just 5 months, so you better make big money now! SMH