Ferry Companies Threaten to Curtail Service

[Anthony]

From the Source today: http://www.onepaper.com/stthomasvi/?p=1201843963

"Nov. 8, 2007 -- Transportation Services and Varlack Ventures, which operate ferry service between St. Thomas and St. John, plan to "significantly curtail" operations within days if the government doesn't come up with funding.
St. Thomas attorney Claudette Ferron, who represents the two St. John-based companies, said there will be no funds to cover operations "shortly thereafter," and the companies will be forced to shut down the service until the local government provides funding, according to a press release issued late Thursday afternoon.
The companies will no longer use any "private, family or personal funds, assets or collateral" to fund franchised ferry boat operations, she said.
Ferron, Transportation Services Manager Kenrick Augustus and Varlack Ventures Vice President Delrise Varlack could not be reached for comment after the close of business hours Thursday. "

[captainjay]

Money soon come!

Its a shame they can't do away with the Franchise (Franchise=Monopoly) and open this up to free market, or make it a public transportion system, like mass transportation in the states. What am I thinking WAPA is a public utility and we see how that's worked out.

Jay

[Iguanaeddie]

I have a feeling of deja vu about this. Nancy and I went to Salt Cay in the Turks & Caicos in March of this year. Air T&C dropped us off and promptly announced they were discontinuing service to Salt Cay because of the lack of a fire truck at the Salt Cay airport. The dispute was settled several days later when a HAND TRUCK with two fire extinguishers was promised to be delivered.
Hopefully this too will be settled quickly.
Ed

[captainjay]

I should have been a little less vage about "money soon come"

The Governor line item vetoed a $500,000 subsidy to the ferry companies. This is a leveraged move by the ferry companies at the start of the season to veto his veto.

Jay

[designbyroe]

I read this this morning and was shocked..........there are kids that need to get to school, there are business's that need to make $$$.
First the governor rejects all the applications for a planner for STJ and now this........what the heck is going on with the administration??
I thought Turnbull was a joke but this is unacceptable

[djmom]

we're going next week, this is kind of unnerving.

then again, if there is gonna be a shutdown, let me on the island first!

[Verve]

In related news, water taxis promise to step up service!

[djmom]

We just booked one, only one way though! Will travel insurance cover our additional stay at St John while we are stuck there!!!!???

[naturegirl]

dj mom-we are going next week as well. What date are you going- do you want to share a water taxi with us.

[Verve]

Which water taxi did you guys book with?

[naturegirl]

We haven't booked one because there are only two of us and it's more than we wanted to spend but if there is going to be a problem with the ferries I would like to hook up with people to share one.

[djmom]

Nature girl-we fly in Thursday USAIR in the afternoon-4:00?

Absolutely would share if it works out.

Don't know the company, I can check with hubby at work. He does all that stuff, thank goodness.

[djmom]

Verve-
we booked with Dohm's (not sure if that is how it is spelled)

are they OK?

[naturegirl]

We get in on Thursday as well but are scheduled to arrive on St Thomas at 12:15. Let's see what happens you never know we may be still waiting around by the time your flight comes in. Let's post again when we have more info. How much did the water taxi cost and does it leave from CA or Red Hook?

[djmom]

$175-there are four of us.

Leaves from Red Hook.

I don't know if our charge is per person or for the boat.