With the V.I. SeaTrans corporation little more than a shell after the recent crash of the Royal Miss Belmar, Public Services Commission members struggled Thursday night to find a solution for transporting passengers between St. Thomas and St. Croix.
The PSC was advised by its attorney that there was little they could about the situation, since SeaTrans has a franchise with the government for the route. The government would have to act first, then put the matter before the PSC, according to attorney Tanisha Bailey-Roka.
But commission member M. Thomas-Jackson did not think that was enough, and called for a special hearing on St. Croix on the matter, where SeaTrans’ Captain Marjorie Smith could talk to residents about the situation.
“The public deserves to hear from Captain Smith,” he said. Jackson’s remarks came after PSC Executive Director Keithley Joseph read into the record a letter from St. Croix resident Mary Moorhead, who asked that the PSC get another ferry company to step in until SeaTrans is back in business. Moorhead said residents cannot afford to fly between St. Thomas and St. Croix on a daily basis, and commission members speculated that passengers were being harder hit by a rise in seaplane rates that they attributed to the ferry being out of service.
Smith told the PSC Thursday that her company’s operations have come to a “virtual standstill.” While the Belmar is off getting fixed, SeaTrans attempted to operate with another boat, but the U.S. Coast Guard deemed that vessel un-seaworthy. Another boat the company was using became too expensive to rent, Smith said.
Another problem Smith discussed was the government not paying its subsidies to the ferries on time. At this point, Smith said she’s owed over $400,000, which has kept her from being able to pay PSC assessments, along with bills for the vessels, including maintenance and fuel.
“Without money, there is very little I can do,” she said. Even after the Royal Miss Belmar is repaired, Smith said she is not sure that she will be able to get it back, since she is also behind on payments for the boat.
Smith said she believes transportation, at least the St. Thomas- St. John route, should be under Public Works, where they would have better access to federal grant funds.
Commission members said they would write a letter to the governor and the Legislature, explaining the situation and asking for their immediate action.
The PSC also voted to give Varlack Ventures, which runs passengers between St. Thomas and St. John, 30 more days to submit their 2010 audit.
Speaking on behalf of Transportation Services, the other St. Thomas to St. John ferry company, attorney Maria Tanksenson-Hodge explained that both ferries are sharing an auditor, and that Transportation Services’ financials will be delayed as well.
Commission members present Thursday were Donald “Ducks” Cole, Verne C. David, Jackson and Elsie Thomas-Trotman. Board member Sirri Hamad was absent.
