Minister Crockwell Responds: Transport Issues
Minister of Tourism Development & Transport Shawn Crockwell has responded to concern over the transport matters in Dockyard, saying that the Ministry “is confident that the new service will prove to be successful as WEDCo and the Ministry collectively address and resolve the identified gaps and potential issues with the new service.”
Last night, Shadow Tourism Minister Zane DeSilva said, “While our tourists stare at the sidewalks, Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell is busy shirking responsibility. While our tourists become frustrated elected OBA representatives are nowhere to be found.
“To quote Minister Patricia Gordon Pamplin from 2012, “It is unacceptable that visitors could be stranded once again without the benefit of sufficient forethought being placed in the moving of passengers from the docks to their respective desired destinations. Bermuda must do better and the Minister must take his head out of the sand.”
“I couldn’t agree more, we must do better, but Minister Crockwell seems to hide behind the Tourism Authority and now WEDC0. When will he stand up and accept responsibility for this disgraceful situation and do something to fix it?
“The fact that Minister Crockwell allowed an exclusive deal to be brokered by WEDCO and Ray Charlton and the Minister didn’t have the sense to inform cruise lines, cruise passengers, bus drivers, taxis, and the public boggles the mind.
“I call on Minister Crockwell to accept responsibility for this disaster and immediately take action to ensure that his incompetence and the inexplicable decisions of his fellow OBA Candidate – Ray Charlton – do not cause additional damage to our reputation as a well run tourism destination,” added Mr. DeSilva.
Responding to criticism from Shadow Transport Minister Lawrence Scott, Minister Crockwell said, “First and foremost the Ministry wishes to acknowledge the transport concerns in Dockyard which have caused undue frustration for our visitors. Let me state unequivocally that we value our visitors and are appreciative of their decision to choose Bermuda as their vacation destination.
“That said, while we recognize that there have been some delays this week with the introduction of the new minibus beach shuttle service, I must stress that the delays were not as excessive as reported.
“This situation was an exception rather than the norm and our Ministry is confident that the new service will prove to be successful as WEDCo and the Ministry collectively address and resolve the identified gaps and potential issues with the new service.”
Video, by Jason Smith, showing the transportation issues at Horseshoe this week:
The Minister added that the Ministry in partnership with WEDco have introduced several initiatives to ensure that the Dockyard area was continuously upgraded in an effort to enhance the visitor experience.
The Minister said, “Last year our Ministry and WEDCo introduced a new traffic and pedestrian system at the Ground Transportation Area [GTA] in Dockyard.
“The new system was necessary due to the increased number of passengers when the Norwegian Breakaway began service to Bermuda on May 15, 2013 and it has proven to be very successful providing a safer and more logical system for cruise ship passengers. Our cruise partners continue to provide complementary comments on the new system.”
Regarding issues raised regarding the communication of how visitors from the cruise ships were advised of utilising the new beach shuttle service and the suggestion that unfair marketing practices took place, the Minister said, “The Ministry would never support the cruise lines encouraging their passengers not to use taxis or mini-bus. This is clearly evidenced by our support of the new minibus beach shuttle service.
“To be clear, the Ministry has traditionally provided a limited number of transportation passes for sale onboard the cruise ships that make regular visits to Bermuda. This is not a new practice and this was also done under the previous government.
“A limited number of passes are sold onboard to minimize the shore side demands and reduce long lines at the sales kiosks at the ground transportation area and visitor service outlet in Dockyard. The transportation passes are also used for travel onboard the ferries which is heavily utilized therefore there will always be a demand for passes.”
He added, “The Ministry has previously clearly stated that we support and encourage visitors in particular cruise passengers in Dockyard to utilize taxis and minibuses. The large numbers of passengers in Dockyard provide entrepreneurial opportunities while reducing the need and reliance on the public buses that have traditionally provided this service.
“This concept was recently supported by a member of the Opposition during the question and answer period following the Minister’s reply to a parliamentary question related to minibuses.”
And relating to the Opposition’s allegations of budgetary inconsistencies and union concerns, the Minister clarified, “The revenue projections were based on the increased number of passengers over the previous year which will result in additional sales and demands for charter excursions. Furthermore, at no time are we able to substantiate the non-payment of overtime when it was earned. Our payroll records can substantiate this.”
The Minister concluded, “It is terribly disappointing to see that into this difficult situation, Opposition MP Lawrence Scott has issued a statement that adds nothing positive to the matter. Instead, his commentary has been relegated to nothing more than political point scoring – regrettably offering nothing constructive. Mr. Scott’s information is largely inaccurate, with unsubstantiated statements.
“For our part, we are focused on solutions, and I want to assure the people of Bermuda and our visitors that this Ministry has moved forward with on-the-ground measures to correct an unfortunate situation which I am confident will erradicate the challenges we faced earlier this week.
“These steps will be in play today [Aug. 8] and the Ministry will closely monitor the situation for further corrective actions if necessary.”
Soo all evidence from the hospitality workers on the front line proves that the old system of having special public buses along with mini buses and taxis worked best.
BUT The minister responds by saying “it’s not as bad as everyone’s saying” Got it. HA! His head’s BEEN in the sand. This was nothing more than a ploy to milk the tourists out of all their money before they get off the damn ship! A bad first step toward privatization.
“If it ain’t broken don’t fix it! “
Party Politics aside, this situation is indefensible.
This sh1t is funny Zane sound uninformed.
He has spoken. But what I would like is Crockwell and crew out there in the heat with our tourist to experience what they experience.
So Wedco are promoting the minibuses above all other means of transportation as they are taking a nice cut of the action. Is that even legal? It certainly seems unethical to me.
Blah blah blah talk talk talk Shawn no one believes a word coming out of that mouth hahahahaha waste of effing film SMDH
Sh-t up Mr. Zane DeSilva! Who “upset the apple cart” more than your Party when they’d been “the big dogs in the yard”? Oh how soon you seem to forget; the ferries etc. when they’d stopped leaving locals and tourist all over the Island not knowing their “a**s from their elbows” So please Zane, if you can’t say / present a proper solution then get in the rear seat and keep quiet bie’
Ah, now dealing with de matter at hand, you need to except the criticism that you dished out when P.L.P. f!@#ed up, now that you’re F!@#ing up you cant take it.
LMFAO
I’ll fall for your traps Kunta…just hold your breath
Was it not reported that the issue was with WEDCO??? So why not take the entire situation to them it was reported that the problem was lack of advertising on board the cruise ships and why not have a kiosk near the Ships to highlight the new service – just saying
” While our tourists become frustrated elected OBA representatives are nowhere to be found”
So wait, was Zane DeSilva at Dockyard or Horseshoe Bay offering support to our visitors? Or, as more likely, is he just doing politix-as-usual and pointing fingers?
That my “friend” is a $64000:00 question
By the way, don’t wait for a reply…
He has no need to offer support, as his Party was found incompetent and was told by O.B.A/ubp they would do a better job.
Meanwhile back at de Ranch.
No Zane was only wondering how he can make more money for HISSELF….
And yet we want to destroy parts of the island to allow for more of these monsterous ships to come to our island. People only do to you what YOU allow. We have two smaller ports, Hamilton and St. Georges. How about getting together with some cruise lines that still do operate smaller vessils and offer them some incentives to get them here, without destroying parts of our island??!! Sat and watched cruise ship passengers get off the ferry and head back to ship one day. Must have seen hundreds of them. Only ONE lady had a bag from English SPorts shop that was big enough that she had to carry on its own, whatever anyone else bought was fitting into a purse or a knapsack. Bermuda needs to take back control of its tourist industry and not bow down to the whims of people that want to build cruise ships the size of small countries that transport people, that by large, spend very little money off of the ship.
Most of the stuff from China you can buy from an East Coast strip mall at half the price.
I have spoken to many Cruise Ship Tourists,
ALL say $16 a person is a RIP OFF!
It’ll cost a “hell of a lot less” taking a taxi. Add it up, 4 or 5 persons x $16 as oppose to a taxi fare. Be competitive you guys,and give the tourist who are our bread and butter”a break!
A taxi to and from Dockyard from Horseshoe will cost about $80. So $16 for a return trip is economical for 5 people or less. Plus the convenience factor of having someone coming to pick you up, rather than standing on the side of the road trying to hail a taxi.
i drive a taxi its about $20-30 each way
OK, so with tip a taxi to the beach & back should be no more than $70 tops. You need 5 people to equal or beat the shuttle cost @ $77 for 5 round trip. Bus is going to be $62.50 for 5 PLUS the TO THE TOP fare. Don’t know what that is.
See, math is not that tough.
Looks like the taxi wins. Trouble is, you have to make up your own group.
TO THE TOP fare is $1.00 down and $2.00 up
If a 25 minute taxi ride is $20 I’m being ripped off several times a week.
What nonsense dribble are you talking.
It doesn’t even cost $80 for a family of 4 from the airport to S. Princess in a taxi.
In case you didn’t know, taxi’s are metered.
I guess Math wasn’t your strong point in school
Very true. A group taking a taxi is much cheaper over the PTB bus (plus the ride down & back up the hill), but those passengers won’t do the math for themselves. Seems like many of them can’t.
No, they go like sheep & do whatever the ship tour director tells them to do. How much does the ship get from the sale of bus passes?
That shuttle $16 is from ship to beach & beach back to the ship. Maybe if it were $15 they could do the math easier.
How much is a taxi anyway? Don’t forget to include a tip.
If Shawn wanted to change the system why do it in the middle of the season?????????? Shoulda waited till May 2015.
Not impressed with the Minister’s statement. A lot of decorative talk that skirts around someone taking responsibility for POOR COMMUNICATION to all stakeholders regarding the implementation plan. Wake me up when someone takes ownership of this repeatedly unacceptable scenario that plays out each summer. I guess this is what we call enhancing our tourism product!
GYPSY CABS!!!…people need to make money …stop moaning…lets do it!
Now, that’s an alternative. The drives can’t by Law state a rate to the passenger/s but they can “suggest”, offer / give what you,(the passenger)can afford.
(Food For Thought)
I would like to thank the OBA for this new initiative. Why of course I am concerned that the roll out did not go as smooth as I would have liked to have seen it but in the long run this will be better. First of all imagine if you had paid all those taxes to the government for your taxi and mini bus permits only to be told to stand in line over there while the public buses(using your taxes to compete with you) were taking food right off your plate and getting preferential treatment. Secondly by the time these buses were filled up you could not get a bus in Somerset because they were full and the cruise lines were getting a commission off our taxpayer subsidized buses! I bet there are a lot of happy Bermudian Taxi and Minibus drivers out there tonight! Thirdly I heard a caller on a talk show complain about their 85 year old friend who was having to wait for the bus. Well under the new system that same 85 year old does not have to walk up that hill in the August heat as the Taxis and Mini buses both go down the hill, surely that makes more sense. Fourthly by reducing the load on the buses we can save on some overtime and schedule some much needed maintenance. As I mentioned earlier I was listening to the talk show on Wednesday and I was very refreshed to hear Mr. Charlton call in and take responsibility for the teething problems and promised to get it sorted out ASAP. I am pleased to say that today as I drove by Horseshoe Bay on my way home the Situation seems to have been rectified.
Should never have committed to 2 mega ships in Dockyard ..its as simple as that …i agree that there are fewer smaller ships left on the market but instead of working hard and securing one or two for St.Geo and Hamilton they took the easy route (imagine that) so who were the smart ones Zane
We are tired of all the transparent excuses.Can’t we get any thing right!
Zane talks rubbish!
Soooo, who is accountable for this fiasco? If this was aprivate enterprise, Dias, Crockwell and whomever else was involved in this deal would have been asked to tender their resignations by now. Talk about 9 lives?? Hopefully we still have visitors after these guys exhaust their remaining 7,(or 6, etc)… By the way Minister Crockwell, I was at
Dockyard AND Horseshoe Bay; it was shameful!! (and yes, I transported visitors down and back).
I guess we won’t have to be paying all those $95 overtime hours on Sundays anymore! This should save the taxpayers a fortune and perhaps we can get those buses up to scratch.
Kudos to the tourism minister for organizing a shuttle service to the beach. Maybe the minister can give us the number of passengers that used this service on that particular day. It’s quite evident that the buses and taxis cannot handle the amount of people coming off the ships, so I am sure things will run fairly smoothly on the next docking if the parties involved are willing to swallow their egos and work together.
Just wondering, are you saying Ding Bat and his mates are getting $95 per hour on Sundays?
Who is ding bat?
Ya gotta
I bet the shuttle done well today lol