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Although the governor Pedro Pierluisi supports the operation of passenger and freight transport between the Big Island and the municipal islands through a public-private partnership (PPP), the mayors of Old ones and by Snake, Juan A. Corcino Yes Edilberto Romero, respectively, oppose this mechanism.
Both mayors are in favor of setting up a cooperative to provide the serviceand anticipated that they would hold dialogues and meetings to reverse the contract that ceded to APP in December last year at a cost of $ 750.9 million. Company HMS Ferries Inc. was the one selected for APP for 23 years.
“We have to wait for him to arrive[APP]but I understand that it will not work, because now with HMS, which is the chosen company, I have not seen any change. There are many things in the contract that concern us and we talked to them and we raised it, the need for changes “, said Corcino.
“For example, I am concerned that the number of trips decreases from eight to four. We can’t go back. How residents will identify people providing humanitarian services. At this point, the shipping system has collapsed, “he said.
The two mayors agreed, in separate interviews, that maritime transport was at its “worst” time, although the transition between Maritime Transport Authority (ATM) and HMS Ferries.
“This transition, according to the contract, is scheduled for three years. (HMS) does not bring new boats. We continue with the plan. We will continue what we have in repair “, said the interim director of the ATM, Miguel Betancourt.
The ATM leased $ 2.2 million to two ships from HMS Ferries to be inspected by coastguard and then start working.
The ATM has only one ship in operation: Cayo Blanco. Other ships, such as Julia Leigh, Mr. Mason and the barge Marilin S., are chartered.
Betancourt said the solution for dismantled shipping in Vieques and Culebra is the application “because the new operator will bring all its knowledge,” expertise “and many years of experience operating ferries in the United States to Puerto Rico.”
“I’m with Mayor Vieques. We are not full of hope with the application, because this has lasted for decades. We, the inhabitants of Culebra, did not see the solution or the light at the end of the road. We were so banished. APP works in Cataño, but it did not come to Ceiba, where it is most needed “, said Romero.
He pointed out that ships chartered from HMS Ferries were inadequate. “There are catamarans even smaller than Julia Leigh, which, being smaller, are suspended due to the waves,” he asked.