The government’s contract with the owners of the V2V Empress has come to an end and passenger ferry services will no longer be running between Montserrat and Antigua.
The update from the Access Division comes despite Premier Joseph E Farrell’s assurance in March that the government would be retaining ferry services for another year.
A press release on 30 April said the ferry service closed the same day on completion of the 7.30pm journey from Antigua to Montserrat.
“The Government of Montserrat recognises the importance of sea transport, particularly during the peak periods, but regrettably was unable to provide continued service at this time,” it read.
A post on the V2V Empress Facebook page said the ferry owners appreciated the trust of the Government of Montserrat and the participants in the project.
“We carry the kindness of the people of Montserrat in our hearts and wish the best for the country,” it read.
“We say hasta luego (see you later) instead of adiós (goodbye) with the hope to meet again in the future.”
Broken promise
During a live broadcast interview with the Government Information Unit on 28 March, Farrell said the government would be signing a $17 million contract with the ferry operator.
He told listeners that the catamaran service, which was previously contracted for five months from November 2023, would roll over into April with no gaps in the schedule.
During the interview, he said Cabinet had agreed to fund the operation for the coming financial year using its 2024-2025 Budget, and the contract was to be signed “anytime now”.
“We all aware that having a ferry is a public good, and the absence of a ferry makes life difficult for the travelling public,” the premier said at the time.
Chasing its tail
However, just a week later on 5 March, opposition leader Paul Lewis said the government was at risk of not delivering on its promise.
“We are being made to understand that the ferry service extension is on hold while the government is running around chasing its own tail, having frantic meetings to save face,” he said.
Naviyuc SA De CV, which owns the Belize-flagged V2V Empress vessel which was built in 1995, began its 1.5 hour services between Montserrat and Antigua in early November 2023.
The company was contracted to operate for five days a week during the off-peak period and six days a week during the peak periods in December 2023 and March 2024.
The schedule also included a number of day trips to Antigua and Nevis.
The V2V Empress carried up to 192 passengers each trip and was run by an all-Mexican crew of seven including Captain Jesus Ramirez.
Montserrat Focus has reached out to the Access Division for further information on why the service has been cancelled and is awaiting a response.
I’m really disappointed about the cancellation of the ferry service from Antigua to Montserrat. This is an essential service. I will be going to Montserrat in November. I hope the government makes this a priority and get the ferry back in action.