No Fuel for Foreign Boats

"The Government of Trinidad has once again proven that they just don’t have a clue," says John Anderton of the Alameda-based Cabo Rico 37 Sanderling. "I have been a supporter of Trinidad for several years, resisting the opportunity to find fault with the many strange and counter-productive issues that this country seems to delight in having. The time has come to declare an end to stupidity.

"Last week the Customs office seems to have run amok. Prior to this latest outrage, the Customs office has gone out of its way to continually demonstrate that foreign flagged yachts are really not welcome in Trinidad. Boats checking out have one hour to leave or risk fines. Boats sailing between Trinidad and Tobago may not stop at any of the anchorages along the north coast of Trinidad. Boat parts await clearance from Customs at their discretion. I’m currently waiting for a control unit for my autopilot — which I purchased through a local vendor — to be cleared. It’s been here for a week. The vendor reports that Customs says they’re too busy but they would clear the part after 4 p.m., charging an overtime fee. The vendor has refused. I know this is just a game, so I wait.

"On August 24, Customs notified the two fuel docks that they were in violation of Trinidadian law by selling government subsidized fuel to foreign-flagged vessels, and it was therefore banning the sale of fuel to all foreign-flagged boats. So folks, no fuel in Trinidad even though the fuel docks have been doing so for 17 years. More than 2,000 boats make Trinidad their yearly hurricane refuge so to say people are concerned is an understatement. Why the heck they just didn’t raise the prices for foreign vessels is unclear.

"A meeting held August 29 was attended by boaters, vendors, and many government officials to solve this huge problem. Of couse the decision was made that more meetings are needed."

We’ll keep you updated on this developing situation here on ‘Lectronic and in Latitude.