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Water Taxi Operators want extended opening hours @ West End Ferry Dock

-COVID-19 testing reportedly closes half hour before the port is closed to international passengers
Water taxi operators in the Virgin Islands (VI) are appealing to the local authorities to extend the opening hours of the West End Ferry Terminal and for the Department of Health, Customs and Immigration to synchronize their departments with the new opening hours. Photo: Facebook/File
A COVID-19 test. One taxi operator citing frustration at the situation said the West End Ferry Dock is closed to international boats and passengers at 4:30 pm while the health department responsible for conducting COVID-19 testing closes a half-hour earlier at 4:00 pm. Photo: Internet Source
A COVID-19 test. One taxi operator citing frustration at the situation said the West End Ferry Dock is closed to international boats and passengers at 4:30 pm while the health department responsible for conducting COVID-19 testing closes a half-hour earlier at 4:00 pm. Photo: Internet Source
WEST END, TORTOLA, VI – Water taxi operators in the Virgin Islands (VI) are appealing to local authorities to extend the opening hours of the West End Ferry Terminal and for the Department of Health, Customs and Immigration to synchronize their departments with the new opening hours.

These calls were heightened last evening November 20, 2021, after some 20 water taxies were forced to head to the Road Town Ferry Jetty to clear international passengers who arrived at the West End dock.

Open for more hours - Water Taxi Operators 

One taxi operator citing frustration at the situation said the West End Ferry Dock is closed to international boats and passengers at 4:30 pm while the Health Department responsible for conducting COVID-19 testing closes a half-hour earlier at 4:00 pm.

He said the situation has created a logistics nightmare at the West End Dock where arriving passengers are unable to access the COVID-19 testing services if they arrive close to the 4:00 pm hour or after.

Sources told our News Centre that the setback has created congestion and has resulted in many passengers experiencing hours of delays and frequent flight cancellations among other issues.

"Extend the hours at West End, everyone benefits with that, the same staff who were crying out that they were getting limited hours of work [will] get the opportunity to make up now,” an operator related.

Everybody benefits with more Hours - Water Taxi Operators 

Meanwhile, the operators have related that in the COVID-19 era, water taxis are providing much-needed relief to the big ferries that have to limit their passenger numbers as a result of COVID-19 public health protocols.

Operators, therefore, called for equal treatment at ports in comparison with ferries, where a ‘first come, first serve' system should be implemented to ensure passengers get processed in an orderly manner based on who arrives at the port first.

 

15 Responses to “Water Taxi Operators want extended opening hours @ West End Ferry Dock”

  • ausar (21/11/2021, 17:04) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    You would think by now that we would have been able to synchronize passenger arrival/COVID testing logistics..

    Sadly, we're STILL behind the eight ball on these matters!
  • mommy (21/11/2021, 18:00) Like (9) Dislike (3) Reply
    The officers are beyond 12 years a slave, they are not paid overtime for overtime hours, but yes we charge you the overtime rate… and for them who jumping up and so quick to write complaints, like you ain’t see how short staff the Customs and immigration departments are, Coi run come with your report.
    • Water taxi operator (22/11/2021, 07:20) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      We are fully aware that the officers are overworked and underpaid. This is not a call for them to be further mistreated, this is a call for the authorities to FIX the problem by rotating staff, paying more fairly, or whatever they have to do to make this nightmare stop.
  • Sam (21/11/2021, 18:05) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
    I will have some of my white friends speak on this matter; give me a few hours


    no need to thank me !!!!!!
  • Island boy (21/11/2021, 18:15) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    its about time..This will ease the RT jetty..
  • resident (21/11/2021, 18:44) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    this whole test to go anywhere thing is rubbish, I long for the days when I didn't have to get a qtip up my nose to travel
  • frustrated (21/11/2021, 18:45) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    So that is what created the cluster f::k at Roadtown ferry terminal last evening when the Roadtown Fast Ferry came in from St Thomas with a boatload of passengers. I was one of those passengers. There were elderly people and families with young children from RTF ferry that were forced to stand in line for a very very long time after disembarking the ferry while Immigration processed the water taxis first.....
  • race (21/11/2021, 19:35) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    Appears that the BVI government has created a water taxi race to WE by 4pm daily and a second race to RT after 4pm until dusk. May the fastest taxi win!
  • tola (21/11/2021, 20:07) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    All them staff west end need move and get fresh face down there . Soon as 4pm every body gone home
    • you lie (22/11/2021, 09:06) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      You need to stop telling lies they does be there after 4. Once customs and immigration close, what do you all expect the health workers to do? The can't check in passengers or boats. Customs and immigration calls the shots down there. I would say you are correct the customs dept needs a haul with the ppl they have down there. Especially that Forbes girl she acts like down there is hers.
  • WOW (21/11/2021, 21:27) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    They never could manage, it's been a mess since the beginning.
    Could be so Simple
  • I agree It's u all rights (22/11/2021, 02:39) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Everyone deserves the opportunity to earn a piece of the tourist pie...Especially the hard honest workers and investors....We know that this government has a listening and compassion deficiency ..Wish them the best of luck..
  • Traveling!? (22/11/2021, 09:14) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    The testing setup is a mess. There is one ‘tester’ in full PPE sweating like a pig. No one helps this poor guy other than shoveling tourists to him with little number slips (the poor guy is sweating so hard he has trouble reading the number on the slips and by the 10’th tourist it looks like he is playing 3-card Monty - so if there was a positive test...it is mixed up).
    Total incompetence
    These immigration people are Over Their Heads. No chance they can process the amount of tourism that WANTS to come here. Either get rid of these fools, or drop testing here. This is chasing away tourists. You are killing us!
    There is only one pillar in the BVI tent - TOURISTS
    Fix it!
  • duh! (22/11/2021, 11:50) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is not rocket science! Simple coordination and a willingness to facilitate our visitors will address this.
    • @ duh (22/11/2021, 15:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      why it always have to be about the visitors
      why cant matters be addressed for the residents

      when the topic of a clean or cleaning up bvi income the words visitors dont those living, working and paying tax here deserve a clean community

      who studies our people when we leave this territory we always bend over for others



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