Kim Swan: Rethink Ferry Decision
[Written by Kim.Swan, Leader of the Opposition] As a Member of Parliament for St. George’s West, I am deeply disappointed to hear from the Minister of Transport during the budget debate that the morning commuter ferry service from St. George’s to Hamilton has been axed.
Unfortunately, this comes at a time when we need to encourage more locals to use public transportation and reduce traffic on our roads.
As a person who also utilises public transportation, it is a major disappointment to learn that the St. George’s morning ferry commuter service has been put on “dry dock” by the PLP Government.
Ironically, the government announced that it will continue with the afternoon ferry service. This is a half hearted policy which is inconsistent and not in the best interest of the east end commuter.
In previous years I have offered a solution (as a cost saving measure) that the ferry could be berthed in St. George’s overnight and the morning commute from the east end would be its first trip for day. This would stop the need for an empty trip each morning to collect morning commuters from St. George’s and St. David’s.
In addition, it is felt that an east end community based commuter feeder promotion initiative – like the one used to make Rockaway a popular ferry stop – would help make the ferry a public transportation alternative to the east end community.
I will personally appeal to the Minister of Transport to have a rethink of this policy decision.
Thanks Kim. I thought the same thing you are appealing.
Then again, it’s like ‘beating a dead horse’….I meam “House”.
I am also disappointed with Minister Lister’s decision to cease the ferry service from St. George. I am a resident of the East End and found that the mornig ferry was very useful. Especially when it came to refueling my car, I would save quite a bit of money. I also figured that since Government opened the new residential units “Harbour View Villige”, with as much as 100 families moving into the East End, there would be a greater need for those wanting to use the ferry as an alternative transportation method into Hamilton. I’m sure those families would have utilized the ferry, being that the terminal is literally right across the street from their homes.
Good points TJ, especially with Harbour View Village coming on stream. I wonder if we will have a rethink, Mr Lister seems to be a very rational and forward thinking man.
Yeah just threaten industrial action he’ll change his mind!
Typical PLP decision making. Tens of thousands spent on parking for commuters on Marginal Wharf. Rarely more than 4 cars parked there for the day. Millions spent by Guess Who as Transoprt Minister, for a ferry way too big for the job.
Use one of the small fast ferrys. Base it at Marginal Warf. Run it through Swing Bridge eliminating the time consuming fuel burning long way around St Cathrines Point.
‘It will hold up morning traffic at Swing Bridge’ You say. Too bad. All the more reason to ride the ferry.
Now…if only there was a way to stop all these danged union meetings & wildcat strikes, then there might be a reliable service that people would depend on & use.
Profit & Loss Party
they profit…your loss!
Thank you again Kim Swan for caring about Bermuda. We appreciate your leadership and don’t waiver from your points of view! Funny BDA left because you would not get rid of hard working MP Gibbons, Pamplin, Jackson and Barritt and now BDA and Dunkley wants to get rid of you and Barritt agrees, watch your back, we got ur back – supporter of a Christain Son!
st. george needs a ferry service, speak on Swan and support st. george!
Agrees with SUPPORTERS, watch them on the fence back biters. typicial they want US to save them, then want to hang us out to dry – 2 many pockets of sloppiness – tell them to run in marginals.
I agree with Kim on all points. Dock the ferry here, and save money. with more andmore people in the east end. It can only make sense. and how about a late night run for peopel who are out in town and don’t want to drive home or a weekend run to connect us witht he rest of hte island. (posssibly to pick up cars left behind by the people using the late night ferry home!!!)
Wanted: Representation from other St. George MP? no representation NO VOTE Dame
A good Idea would be to get small ferries like the one Newstead uses to do the runs in the off times saving on fuel and manpower all around.
A boat the size of the Newstead shuttle may have adequate capacity for runs other than hopefully what the commuter times could attract, but it is painfully slow. On the water speed costs big money. Having to go around Spanish Point adds a huge amount of extra distance making a bus possibly much faster.
Also a boat the size of the Newstead catarmaran will not be suitable on the open north shore on days when the larger boats can run with no problem at all.
Cutting the St.George’s morning schedule is small change compared to the cuts they are proposing for the Paget/Warwick routes. The proposals appear to penalize and cause undue sufferings to the public that use the ferries for daily transportation. Why do the public have to go through that type of stress because the civil servants and Government Ministers have mis-managed the public accounts.
I’m certainly glad that I have voting options. Non vote for the PLP is a plus for the opposition.
Drag
The Ministers and civil servants have taxpayer provided GP vehicles, therefore they are not affected by these decisions.
In their heyday the the Paget Warwick routes were supported by hotels such as Buena Vista, Glencoe, Inverurie & Belmont. All are gone now.
Will there be a corresponding cut in ferry crews with the service, since labour is by far the single largest cost, or will they be kept on to play cards at the M&P yard inbetween commuter hours?
Given the recent events on our labour front, the answers to your questions are predictable.
Good points ace….
The City of Hamilton (and the Dockyard too) is dead at night in season as the Cruise Ship passengers are stranded in dockyard without a fast ferry service. Look people will pay a little more for ferry service late night….But damn we are either in the tourism biz or not. Of course the ships have exactly what they want: the right to keep people on board at night by allowing their shows to go on whilst in port. That in my view is a travesty to all Bermudian Entertainers. The ships have it all…The bars in dockyard sit empty at night (most nights) and that is directly as a result of BROWN allowing the Cruise Ship policy to change. Of course he was Minister of Tourism and Transport and he sold us out. Bermuda is the only country in the WORLD that allows Cruise Ships to put on their shows in port. It just ain’t right. Bermuda Business and entertainers do not “FEEL the LOVE” at night. The Cruise Ships even put on drink specials in the Crew Bar to keep the crew on board…They want ALL the DOLLARS for themselves…….
As for Brown, he told me that as long as Government got their HEAD TAX…..that was what Government was interested in. He said if passengers weren’t getting off the ships then we Bermudians must not be playing the right music to attract them off the boat. What a crock…
The old policy worked great as for 30 years the Cruise Ships were NOT allowed to have shows in port. That way the passengers were encouraged off the boats at night.
This issue really gauls me to no end….and Bermudians got screwed yet again. Meanwhile Norwegian Cruise Lines et al are even richer…
That just aint right !
no one cares about st. georges. ridiculous! bad enough there is only one in good summer weather.