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FACT vs. FICTION
NIDCO responds with fact to CCN TV6’s fiction
Certain persons in the media, opposition politicians and disgruntled former employees and contractors of NIDCO have embarked on a malicious smear campaign against NIDCO and its senior management. NIDCO’s view is that the purpose behind this campaign is clearly to diminish in the eyes of the public the success NIDCO has achieved in bringing to fruition its projects, including the Interchange and the Water Taxi Service.
Throughout this campaign numerous false allegations have been made against NIDCO and its senior management which have absolutely no basis in fact and are calculated to do nothing but to publicly vilify NIDCO and its senior management.
Some examples of these untruths are as follows; NIDCO would deal with other allegations in later publications.
Cabinet approved a total budget of TT$252 million for the Water Taxi project which includes vessel acquisition, infrastructure works, engineering and design studies and dredging. To date the sum of TT$165 million has been expended on this project. The project is, therefore, significantly under budget and NOT as alleged by CCN TV6 “well over budget”. This allegation by TV6 is totally untrue.
As Cabinet intended to have the Water Taxi Service in operation as quickly as possible it took a decision to commence the service with the use of second hand vessels; new vessels would necessarily have delayed the commencement of this project as the waiting time for delivery of new vessels would have meant too much of a delay in the commencement of this service.
A sum of US$15 million was approved by Cabinet for the acquisition of used vessels for the Water Taxi Service. It is to be noted that high speed catamarans were needed for this type of service and had to be sourced from wherever in the world they were available.
NIDCO purchased four (4) used vessels for this service at a total cost of approximately TT$59.9 million and NOT TT$180 million as alleged by CCN TV6.
NIDCO was well aware that on purchasing these vessels, repairs and refurbishment had to be undertaken to ensure a reliable and safe passenger ferry service. Repairs to the three (3) UK vessels, that is to say the Milancia, the Katia and the Olivia amounted to TT$5.9 million and NOT TT$12 million as alleged by CCN TV6.
The three (3) vessels cost TT$1.17 million to be painted and not TT$2 million as alleged by CCN TV6.
In all transactions relating to the purchase, repairs and refurbishment of vessels for the Water Taxi Service, etc. NIDCO had engaged experts and consultants upon whose advice NIDCO acted at all times. TV6 alleged that it was cheaper to carry out repairs to the vessels in the UK. That statement was and is completely false. NIDCO’s senior management was advised by its marine consultants that it would be cheaper to have these repairs done in Trinidad. Indeed, UK estimates for painting and anti-fouling and minor repairs was TT$4.38million as against the estimate of TT$1.05 million for similar work in Trinidad.
NIDCO had entered into an agreement to purchase the vessel Eid Travel for US$6.5 million which in the end escalated to US$7 million. This agreement had to be aborted as the owners of the Eid Travel found themselves confronted with various difficulties including the inability to pass proper title to NIDCO. NIDCO purchased instead the vessel Su for the sum of US$3.9 million which was considerably less than the price for the Eid Travel, and NOT more as alleged by CCN TV6. Further, the Eid Travel had a passenger capacity of 308 persons in comparison to that of 449 for Su.
NIDCO’s marine experts were of the opinion that Su was in good condition and a better buy and recommended her purchase. Rigorous sea-trials undertaken prior to its purchase revealed that the vessel was fully operational and NOT an old, run down vessel and a disaster as alleged by CCN TV6.
The vessel shown in the CCN TV6 broadcasts during the week of 11 to 15 May 2009, purporting to be the vessel Su, was in fact an old dilapidated dredger. This was a vicious and deliberate attempt on the part of TV6 to mislead the public into believing that NIDCO had negligently purchased an overpriced old wreck, a vessel totally unfit for use in the Water Taxi Service.
Recently the Su underwent an inspection by a Lloyds appointed surveyor who reported that the Su is in good condition. NIDCO is of the view that the Su is a fine vessel and was an excellent purchase.
The Su was a second hand vessel and was purchased as such, and NIDCO was fully aware that repairs to this vessel were necessary and had catered for this.
TT$8.47 million has been spent on repairs to the Su and NOT TT$24 million as alleged by CCN TV6.
The Su, the Katia, the Milancia and the Olivia are NOT designed to operate in the open seas and, therefore, it was just not possible for any of these vessels to cross the Atlantic Ocean on their own steam to Trinidad and Tobago. The inability of these vessels to sail across the Atlantic had nothing whatsoever to do with their condition as alleged by CCN TV6.
NIDCO has successfully implemented and delivered projects which are proving to be of great benefit to our country. The recent opening of the West to South Overpass and Bamboo Bridge at the Interchange has already made a difference to the lives of thousands whose travel times during the afternoon peak hour have already been significantly reduced. The Water Taxi Service has experienced a growth surge of 100% in its five months of operation to the extent that a fourth vessel, the Su, is to be introduced to the service in June to meet the increased passenger demand.
NIDCO will not be deterred in continuing to deliver on its mandate to execute infrastructural projects that are of benefit to the nation and will do so while maintaining the highest standards of accountability, reliability and transparency in carrying out the functions assigned to it and will continue to deliver the necessary infrastructural works necessary for the growth and development of the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
This statement of Fact has been supplied to all daily newspapers to be used
as a paid advertisement however not all have chosen to publish this
Statement of Fact.
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