NDP calls protest at ferry berth

Protest action is planned for today in opposition to the $1 user fee that was implemented last week for use of the new terminal building at the Grenadines wharf.

Parliamentary representative for the Northern Grenadines Dr Godwin Friday said that he remains in total opposition to the implementation of the user fee and is calling on the Port Authority and the Government to revisit what he called “a very poorly thought out and even more poorly executed plan.”{{more}}

“It is a callous and insensitive way of dealing with the traveling public,” said Dr Friday.

Dr Friday said that he is demanding that the Port Authority remove the user fee and provide the terminal as a service to citizens.

He spoke of instances of persons being verbally abused and man-handled.

Dr Friday said that last Saturday, April 21, a 16-year-old secondary school student was reduced to tears when she was barred from catching her ferry because she told an officer at the terminal that she did not have the dollar to pay.

Dr Friday said that it took another officer to allow the girl to go through.

“If she did not catch the 12:30pm ferry then she would have had to wait until the 6 p.m. boat,” Dr Friday said, as he called the situation an unnecessary burden being placed on citizens.

The protest action is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and run till 1 p.m.