OPEN LETTER TO MACLEAN HOBSON Dear Mr Hobson This letter is in relation to the Sun Newspaper’s February 16, 2009 front page article dated captioned ‘Caribe Queen Report.” I was quite shocked when someone telephoned me and asked if I had seen the Sun Newspaper for 16 February 2009. What was more astonishing was the candid remark the person gave when I told him ‘no.” He demanded, “Pick one up now, you will see the motive of those people down here who are working very hard to destroy your business.”Well after perusing this article for myself, I most certainly agree that this is clearly another episode in the PLOT by the Maritime Affairs Department, certain personnel at the St Kitts Port Authority, and others to put F & F Transportation – which is locally owned by my brother Rawle Richards and myself – out of business so that a monopoly can be given to friends in the ferry business. What is even more shocking is the fact that there have been several other maritime accidents, and as far as I know no comprehensive report was done and of course not publicized. There were incidents of a collision with a ferry vessel and a fishing vessel, vessels with engine explosion where a Port Authority vessel had to evacuate passengers, a collision by two vessels off the south coast of St Kitts and we have had a very large cruise ship of over 40,000 tons which ran aground in Nevis and many people including myself wanted to know what could have happened, but as far as I know there was no comprehensive report publicized on any of these incidents. This clearly is a plot to destroy our business. What else would make you so eager to publicize the 14-page report you said you were so impressed with. In fact, what is so impressive about such a report that took more than a year to complete or was that the time needed to concoct a report that is pleasing to you and your Department Heads? I am more intrigued about the person who compiled the report – especially knowing that he was one of the individuals making arrangements to bid for M V Caribe Queen. When he realized who acquired the boat he became very angry and bitter causing him to exhibit his true feelings by harassing the Captain constantly. Mr. Hobson, you are fully aware of this because Rawle (Ingie) and I told you about it in a meeting you held with us at the Maritime Office, and your response was, if you had another Maritime Inspector you would keep him away from the – 2 – 06 March 2009 Mr Maclean Hobson Caribe Queen. Imagine after such a remark you are stating that you have confidence that this individual submitted an impressive report. Additionally, your ministry has received written correspondence from us highlighting certain unfair decisions which were made and approved by your department. For the casual reader it may appear as normal, but given the fact that your Maritime Inspector never liked the now part owner and Captain of the Caribe Queen and the fact that I had written a letter to him condemning statements he made about parking up/stopping the vessel from running it has clearly prompted some retaliation. The Caribe Queen had an accident, but the vessel’s hull did not touch the rocks and at no time was the vessel in any danger of sinking, but your Maritime Inspector seems to have conducted his investigation as if the Captain had committed some sort of criminal offence. The Caribe Queen on the night of the incident returned to Nevis on her own power, and further went on to dry dock in St Maarten on her own power to change one (1) propeller and straighten one (1) rudder. Amazing that the Maritime Affairs office which falls under the same umbrella as the Ministry of Public Works, Utilities, Transport and Post is quite eager to publicize a report that was grudgingly done by one individual and did not have any adverse effect on any of the passengers” lives. However, the same Ministry failed to publicize the collapse of the bridge next to the airport which claimed the life of an individual. It was claimed that experts from overseas came to investigate the collapse of this bridge but it is not necessary to file this report to the general public. Am I supposed to conclude that ministerial officials are in this or is it just you and your counterpart retaliating. As public servants I expect you, your Maritime Inspector, your Permanent Secretary and your Minister to conduct the public affairs in a fair manner and stop the plot that is being orchestrated. I want to emphasize this because I know government officials always like to talk about allegations, but I want it to be known that this is not allegations but facts, because we have been living with it for the past four (4) years. Since we bought the boat from the Government four (4) years ago, the plot was put in motion and continues up to this day. I have already warned my brother (Ingie) Rawle Richards to expect your Maritime Inspector or someone from the St. Kitts Port Authority to come down and stop him from running, just like they did on 06 August 2008 so that their friend can take the passengers. It is important that the public understands that the Caribe Queen is the only Ferry operating between Charlestown and Basseterre that is registered in the Federation, but on 06 August 2008 the vessel was given a hefty fine for unauthorized berthing by St Kitts Port Authority. It is also important to note that the Caribe Queen is only given half a day run, but have to pay the same berthing fees as the other vessels that run all day. Where is the justice? Imagine my brother Rawle Richards/Ingie who spent twenty-three (23) years working on that boat and later got the opportunity to bid on and then, purchase it from Government has the unfortunate – 3 – 06 March 2009 Mr Maclean Hobson situation where government officials are working overtime to put him out of business. This is a total disgrace. So often we hear on radio and television how Government is doing so much to encourage and help small businesses, but it appears that it is more help for friends and family rather than doing things fairly. I can assure you that this would be a challenge for our newly appointed Ombudsman and the Minister of Justice, because I have exhausted just about all the avenues of trying to get someone to hear our case, and clearly I intend to take it to both gentlemen and then to the Court. I hope that at this juncture you would be able to come to the realization that your unprofessional behavior is unbecoming and you would make every effort to raise the standard of your department to one of transparency and fairness. Yours sincerely ……………………………… Earl Francis Part Owner Captain c Dr The Hon Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister The Hon Sam T Condor, Deputy Prime Minister The Hon Joseph Parry, Premier, Nevis Island Administration Dr The Hon Earl “Asim”Martin, Minister of Public Works, Utilities, Posts, Transportation and Posts Dr The Hon Timothy Harris, Minister of Finance, Foreign Affairs, International Trade, Industry and Commerce The Hon Cedric Liburd, Minister of Housing, Agriculture, Fisheries and Consumer Affairs The Hon Dennis Merchant, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs The Hon Mark Brantley, Leader of the Opposition, Nevis Island Administration Mr Oakland Peets, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Works, Utilities, Posts, Transportation and Posts Mr Errol Douglas, General Manager, St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority Mr Mark Wilkin, President, St Kitts-Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce His Excellency, Ambassador Walford Gumbs, Ombudsman Mr Spencer Hanley, General Manager, Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority Mr Kenneth Williams, Editor-in-Chief, The St Kitts-Nevis Observer Newspaper Mr Timothy Payne, Editor-in-Chief, The Sun St Kitts-Nevis Newspaper Mr Dawud Byron, Editor-in-Chief, The Labour Spokesman Ms Denise Alleyne, Editor-in-Chief, The Democrat
