Garfield Ekon
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, July 19, 2024 – The standoff between the National Trust and Lew 1Shippig is nothing short of a “national crisis” whish has serious and direct implications for citizens and businesses on North and Middle Caicos, and the cays in between, states Hon. Ralph Higgs.
Arguing that the Government should not have “allowed” the situation to become a crisis, the former Tourism Minister said the administration needs to intervene and “rectify” the impasse, as it is impractical, if not impossible for the shipping entity to operate from South Dock.
“It will increase the already high freight between Providenciales, Pine and Parrott Cay, North and Middle Caicos, by at least three-fold, and most of the journey would be on the high seas, the ocean, there could be many days when the sea is rough for Lew 1 to travel from South Dock to North Caicos, and the islands in between, making a bad situation even more,” he said.
The Lew 1 Shipping line is required to pay U$100,000 obligation to help sustain the lifeline of the TCI National Trust, and it argues that the effects could be “disastrous and inflationary” for the country, as it must must increase its shipping rates and cargo costs, and pass them onto merchants who must pass them on to the consumer, which is potential costly, and could harm the economies of North and Middle Caicos and operate as a stealth tax.
Mr. Higgs said when he was in office, on many occasions the National Trust has proposed the cost to Lew 1 Shipping, in Heaving Down Rock, and he and the former administration resisted, as they could not support any higher freight on the “backs of the people, and businesses” on the island, recalling that the Trust had sought to close down the operation of the shipping company, for non-payment, and the then Government intervened.
Arguing that for the Government should not have allowed the “lifeline” of North and Middle Caicos and the resort islands of Parrott Cay and Pine Cay to be cut, he said it “demonstrates” a lack of appreciation for the value that the shipping line brings to the islands and shows that the administration does not care about the “struggles of the people, and businesses face on a daily basis.
“We made sure negations continued between” the company and the Trust, and “prevent any disruption in the important service” that they provide to the island, and he wants to the Government to order the Trust to allow the company to resume operations, and “commence the necessary arrangements” to “write off” the “small debt’ of $100,000 and find an amicable way to address other concerns raised by the agency.