Works and Infrastructure Minister Jearlean John has assured there will be no interruption in cargo service to Tobago when the MV Cabo Star leaves the inter-island seabridge in January.
John interjected during an interview with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday, saying, “And before you all ask, there’ll be a boat in Tobago for the 12th. So doh ask not another question. You got the answer.”
After reporters pressed again, she clarified that the replacement vessel would arrive to begin operations the following day.
“It will be here to start service on the 13th,” she said, stressing there would be no period without a cargo ferry serving Tobago.
The assurance follows comments from Chief Secretary and Tobago People’s Party leader Farley Augustine, who said a replacement vessel has already been identified and submitted to Cabinet for approval.
The Cabo Star’s contract, managed by Bridgemans Services Group, expires on January 12, 2026, and will not be renewed.
“We have an evaluation team that returned from Spain and Greece last week, and I am going to Cabinet this Thursday to present the option that those who did the evaluation said we should go with,” Augustine said.
He added that the proposed vessel could have “as much as 100 cabins because we listen to your stakeholders.”
Augustine rejected claims that the government attempted to conceal the Cabo Star’s departure, saying discussions with stakeholders began months ago.
“A conversation was had with the stakeholders on June 11, 2025, right in my office…They actually said to the minister this is what we want. Go and find a boat that can reflect what we actually want.”
He said the transition has been carefully managed.
“More than that, in July when the cargo boat went on dry dock, it was probably the first time the cargo boat went on dry dock without a lot of ... confusion in the space, because the first time a government sat down and put proper measures in place to treat with the removal of the cargo boat and to ensure Tobago continued to have stocks and supplies.”
Augustine said he expects the Minister of Works and Infrastructure, Jearlean John, to oversee the transition.
“I very much expect that Ms John must have a transitioning plan… More than that, Cabinet will make the final decisions, and we will be duly informed.”
He also accused the Opposition of trying to politicise the matter.
“So you see when PNM want to deceive people, they’ll take a thing, twist it, spin it all out, repeat it and hope that the lies stick… If you want a better campaign, find a better leader and find better candidates and then come again. But in this election, you ain’t ready yet.”
