|
Minister says RCMP should address concerns through appropriate channels Tom Rideout, Minister of Transportation and Works, today said that if the RCMP have concerns with the protocols for notifying ferry users then they should address those concerns with his department through the appropriate channels. Minister Rideout said, �Neither I nor my senior executive have received representation from the RCMP indicating that they had any kind of concerns with the protocols for notifying ferry users when there is a change in the province�s ferry service. If this is an issue for the RCMP, they should raise it with the department through the appropriate channels rather than in the media. My department is open to discussions if changes in our protocols are desired. In fact, contact has already been made with senior officials in the RCMP to address this matter.� On Wednesday, October 19, the department made attempts to reach both the mayor of Bell Island and chair of the Bell Island Transportation Committee to make them aware that the MV Beaumont Hamel would have to come out of service the next day, after the early morning runs had been made. When those individuals could not be reached, messages were left for them. In addition, the hospital on Bell Island was notified that the MV Beaumont Hamel was coming out of service. The electronic message boards at the Bell Island and Portugal Cove terminals were changed to note the change in service. The tapes on the telephone information lines were also changed to notify users. Minister Rideout said, �This is our normal communications protocol. �Approximately one month ago the Bell Island Transportation Committee was made aware that the MV Beaumont Hamel would have to go to Fogo Island in order for the MV Earl Winsor to go in for its scheduled refit.� �According to departmental records, Corporal Boyd Merrill is a member of the Bell Island Transportation Committee. Corporal Merrill had ample opportunity to find out about the change in service. Perhaps Corporal Merrill is expressing a personal view. In addition, he seems to have inaccurate information. �In case of an emergency, the department will immediately send our vessel if the RCMP need to get off the island right away. We will interrupt our normal schedule to accommodate the RCMP. The MV Flanders was fully operational during the period in question and could have addressed any problems the RCMP were having with getting off the island.� Bell Island has 24-hour ferry service seven days a week in that departmental marine staff are on call to provide service as required. Minister Rideout said, �My department is responsible for a number of ferry services throughout the island. We have responsibilities that extend beyond Bell Island and the vessels must be moved around when refits are scheduled as required by Transport Canada. Bell Island was never without service. When one of the vessels on the Bell Island service is not running, the other vessel makes additional trips. Furthermore, it is completely unnecessary to put a third vessel on this run.� The department is dredging on the Portugal Cove side of the ferry service, not the Bell Island side as is being reported in The Telegram today. This is a precaution to prepare for the event of a low tide when the vessel is fully loaded. While the department determined weeks ago that dredging would be done, there was a process to be followed in terms of getting the appropriate permits to do the work. The dredging will be finished Monday, October 24. In addition, there are no mechanical problems that will prohibit the MV Nonia from providing service at Bell Island. Minister Rideout said, �Ideally, my department would have liked to have brought the MV Nonia to the Bell Island terminal at an earlier time to do test runs and determine whether the dredging was needed. However, the vessel has been extremely active as a swing vessel due to the number of breakdowns that have occurred throughout the service. These breakdowns are due to the years of under funding of our ferry system by the previous administration.� Media contact: Lori Lee Oates, ABC, Communications, (709) 729-3015, 690-8403 2005 10 22 4:15 p.m. |
||
|
