Residents riled up over closed gate fiasco at ferry terminal
Several persons in the community have expressed outrage and disappointment at an incident where residents were made to climb a fence to successfully get past a port of entry on Tortola several nights ago.
The issue reportedly occurred Wednesday night when persons travelling from Virgin Gorda (VG), on their way to events at the festival village in Road Town, were made to scale past a gate after a Speedy’s vessel reportedly arrived on a later-than-usually-scheduled run.
It is not immediately clear how many persons were affected by the incident but some observers pointed out that this is not the first instance where persons were made to perform acrobatic manoeuvres in order to get past the gate at the Road Town Ferry Terminal.
A short video clip of the incident showed persons sliding dangerously over the water’s edge in a dimly lit area to get past the closed gate at the terminal.
Interim Executive Director of the BVI Yachting, Hotel & Tourism Association (BVIYHTA), Sharon Flax-Brutus, was one of several persons who shared that the incident has been an issue for years and expressed that she thought it had been resolved a long time ago.
Flax-Brutus suggested that there may have been some miscommunication between the ferry operator and the BVI Ports Authority that caused the mishap.
“I spoke about that foolishness already when I myself experienced it one time coming from VG after an event. I can’t believe that foolishness still happening. BVI Ports, please stop this madness,” Former Sixth District Representative Alvera Maduro-Caines commented.
The BVI Ports Authority has not issued any official statements about the incident, so far.
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We are quick to blame the BVI Port Authority, as we do other officials when things like this occur, but do we stop to think that the ferry company may be to blame if no communication was sebt to port? After all, these facilities do not operate on a 24 hour schedule….there are opening and closing hours.
Get all the facts before passing down indictments.
This week all the Festival village activities are at night so BVIPA should ANTICIPATE that there will be late night ferry operations at the RT jetty and leave the gate open. It’s only 2 weeks a year!!!
This is not the first time this has happened. And if there wasn’t no sort of communication I don’t think that the ferry would have advertised a festival schedule in the first instance. Some officers are doing their jobs out of spite to many in this community. But God knows and sees EVERYTHING.
If the ferry arrives on time the gates will be open.
If, as usually happens here , the gate will be closed.
You’re welcome.
IF THERE WERE COMMUNICATION THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM. PEOPLE HERE DONOT COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER, THEY LOVEEEEEE TO USE THE BLAME GAME DEFENSE.
Utter nonsense! It’s carnival week and Port Authority Workers with commonsense knew ferry from VG coming in for the events. Port Authority Management needs to pull up their socks. Even if the Office not manned, why the he’ll they locked the gates. Too many darn hot headed,ignorant Indians and no Chiefs.
Leave the gate open. Are we even thinking before we type. Its a @#$%! PORT OF ENTRY!
Port Authority is the worst department in govt. rudest people always tellin you this and that. The short women who does security at RT ferry dock is the worst of them all. Stop here, don’t come forward show me your ticket. Why do we have to be treated so by this department?
Wish I knew about this
I could have been there in 5 mins with bolt cutters and a saw
Problems solved
yo yo stfu please they should have sense to know leave the gate open for the ferry because is carnival time and there will be a late boat
Oh yes that woman is a hog. No training at all. Treating people so disrespectful. Like if we some little children. She got an ego problem. The Bvi Ports authority knows about it but does nothing.