Rosselló: Transportation issues between P.R-Vieques-Culebra to be resolved by summer
January 21, 2019
Gov. Ricardo Rosselló sits down with News is my Business for the latest episode of Dollar$ and $ense.
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Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló sits down with News is my Business to discuss several pressing economic issues, and the government’s proposed resolutions.
Author Details
Author Details
Business reporter with 30 years of experience writing for weekly and daily newspapers, as well as trade publications in Puerto Rico. My list of former employers includes Caribbean Business, The San Juan Star, and the Puerto Rico Daily Sun, among others. My areas of expertise include telecommunications, technology, retail, agriculture, tourism, banking and most other segments of Puerto Rico’s economy.
Excellent job with the interview. I’d like to correct a couple of things that the Governor said about the ferry service:
1. The biggest problem for our economy is not the quality (although absolutely horrible) but the quantity – our lack of cargo capacity has been obviously actively choking Vieques for decades, but it is even worse now than before and has been single handedly responsible for the economic disaster we have been (and are now) suffering from.
2. The short route is Ceiba to Mosquito Pier in Vieques, but they are running to Isabel Segunda, which we call the medium route. The ATM does not have a security plan for the pier submitted to the USCG/HSA so they can’t approve it.
3. The RFP has gone out to the previously approved contractors with a NDA, so the stakeholders have no idea what is being planned. This is typical of the central government: “we’ll tell you what is best for you”. We are treated as inmates, not equal citizens!
How can’t the government manage 4 ferries? Corruption is the problem. Buying wrong ferries with no knowledge, a standard specifications. Cargo ferries are limited up to 25 cars for an island of 10,000 residents.
The new terminal in Ceiba is a ill planned strategy trying to improve system and service. You can’t achieve it with inept personnel that have no knowledge of mass transport, logistics, maintenance, human resources, weather and the biggest , humanity. Without it, you’ll never understand the need of the people you said you’re providing a basic service as transportation. Relocating the terminals to Ceiba and Mosquito Pier only make it worse. Why going to Ceiba when most of the business and hospital are in Fajardo? I’ll not trade 30 minutes less in water when the whole process is going to cost more to travel, away from civilization, exposed to the elements ( rain, darkness, alone on the road)and take more time and less time for doing business in La Isla. We need larger cargo ferries with a capacity of 50 cars or more. A minimum of 4. All with same specifications. The only way for cost effectiveness. 1 for cargo and passengers, 1 for passengers and their cars. But people without vision improvement is only drifting away.