Residents of the southwestern peninsula will have to wait at least another year for the introduction of a water taxi service to Point Fortin.
Clyde Paul, mayor of Point Fortin, has blamed the delay on political spite.
Funding for the project has to be budgeted for in the 2015/2016 fiscal package, Paul said.
In response to a query on the status of the service, Nidco president Dr Carson Charles, in a letter dated March 2, said data supplied by natural gas company, Atlantic, had shown major dredging work needed to be done to create a pathway for the vessels.
He said there was consultation with Atlantic to determine whether the service could be started early, by using the berthing facilties already in place, as was done in San Fernando and Port-of-Spain.
“In view of this Nidco accordingly included within the Water Taxi service’s FY (financial year) 2015 capital budget, the request for funding approval to undertake engineering studies for the design and construction of suitable terminal facilities at Point Fortin. However, as funding was not approved under FY 2015, the project has now been rolled over to FY 2016.”
Paul said he was disappointed with the delay as students and working people of Point Fortin had to leave before the sun rises and return after dark to their homes.
“I am deeply disappointed at the hypocritical kind of politics that is being played with the well-being of the people of the southwestern peninsula and in particular the burgesses of Point Fortin,” the mayor said.