Mystery engine room fire grounds Cabo Star
Chief Secretary Farley Augustine fears Tobago may face another economic setback after a fire broke out in the Cabo Star’s engine room yesterday, grounding the vessel and adding to the island’s challenges following February’s oil spill, a July shark attack, and a record-high murder toll.
Yesterday’s incident comes just three days before the anniversary of a fire that occurred in the identical compartment of one of the Cabo Star engine rooms on August 23, 2023. This has prompted an investigation by the Port Authority of T&T.
Augustine and the Tobago Chamber are concerned that this latest incident forcing the vessel off the seabridge could negatively affect the island’s economy.
For them, it is a nightmare they do not want to repeat. They hope the island will not have to endure hardship a second time, especially since the last fire threw the island into a food crisis, leaving businesses still reeling from the losses.
After the fire last year, the vessel was out of service for three weeks. During that period, Tobago reportedly ran out of water, flour, toilet paper, beer, bread, animal feed, and building materials.
Augustine yesterday said Tobago could not bear another blow to its economy.
“We had a rough year because it was an oil spill, then a shark attack, and several things in the space that challenged our ability to earn. At this point, we hope to get October Carnival off the ground, that we will exceed last year’s gain,” Augustine said.
He said there were fears of not knowing what was ahead.
“We really don’t know. We are all in a place of not knowing what will happen, and that’s not a good place to be at this time. We are hopeful that the matter will be rectified soon,” he said.
“I would imagine the Tobago business community would panic because we are still uncertain how the matter will be dealt with and how swiftly it will be dealt with.”
While he did not want to speculate, Augustine hopes a thorough investigation brings what is in the dark to light.
“It has to be figured out; whether it was accidental, an act of man, or whether it was someone just trying to destroy the vessel.
“We are no less worried about the reality that we may just not have a vessel for a little while.”
Chamber boss demands thorough probe
“This is unbelievable!”
These words were used to describe the news of a fire on board the Cabo Star, just two months before Tobago’s October Carnival—a critical period for the island’s business sector.
Curtis Williams, chairman of the Tobago Division of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, said Tobago businesses have already started panicking, recalling last year’s fire that left warehouses, hardware stores and supermarkets in limbo.
Williams said the island’s businesses are still reeling from the effects of last year’s fire, with losses in the hundreds of thousands.
Speaking to Guardian Media shortly after the Inter-island Transportation Service confirmed the incident, Williams said he had to pinch himself.
“I was totally shocked when I got the messages and photos. I demand a thorough investigation. This is unbelievable, and whoever is to be held accountable must be held.
“My phone is ringing non-stop. The chamber has a meeting this afternoon (Tuesday), and this is going to be the biggest matter. It’s devastating already for us.”
He is worried about how this might affect businesses’ preparations for the upcoming Carnival.
“From the information we received from the port, they already cannot give us a time or anything. No one can tell us what’s going on. I know there will be some setbacks.”
Williams said he now hopes there is a strategic plan to avoid a collapse of Tobago’s economy.
“The Galleons Passage and other vessels won’t help. People were already replenishing their warehouses and hardware from what was used during the July/August vacation. Lord, this is unbelievable.”
Work and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan could not be reached for comment.
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