Tourism Minister Robert Tonge has announced new standard operating procedures will come in effect at the Roseau ferry terminal, following calls to have it made up to par.
The extended waiting periods for passengers disembarking or embarking, the size of the building, the hot stuffy lines are just some of the issues affecting travelers.
Tonge said measures are being implemented to combat these issues and the terminal will be operated in a similar manner to an airport, Tonge said on state-owned DBS Radio’s Talking Tourism on Monday 18th August 2015.
The Minister added however, that rules to be implemented must be followed to ensure the swift operation.
“So persons have to begin to respect the closing times, when the gate is closed, it means even if you have checked in and you go when you come back, it means you have the chance you may get kicked off the vessel. So persons have to adhere to it so that the vessel can be on time,” he stated.
He is also arguing that while passengers would like to go through Customs quickly, Custom Officials have their jobs to do.
“No one wants to stay in there for too much of a long time however the Customs have their job to do … there is also the job of ensuring that we are safe and secure and also the collection of revenue. These things are also important for the country,” he noted. “Once you have a proper standard operating procedures everyone knows exactly what to do and even try to tie it down with bench marks in terms of time, so really and truly it is not just about the visitor, it is also for the locals.”
Managing Director of HHV Whitchurch and Co. Ltd, and agents for the L’espress des Iles, Gairy Aird, said there is a period of 15 minutes to turn the ferry around which not only assists the passengers but also from a safety point of view.
“The Roseau ferry terminal is protruded slightly out so there is always a little swell there, not much, so it means that the vessel has to get out of there as quickly as it can because the longer it stays alongside there is always the possibility of damage,” he explained. “When the vessel comes in all these things are going to help because you can’t travel an hour and a half and then stand up on the vessel waiting to come ashore because somebody is doing the baggage first and you can’t come ashore until the baggage is complete.”
He added, “It has to be operated like an airline, like an airport, baggage and the people come off at the same time. So I really welcome what has been happening.”
Sherlock said “observe and you shall learn my dear Watson”.
It’s not the size of the terminal that really matters, but gestures,attitudes, and processing.
What I do is grin and bear it. I’m not saying that’s the answer, but in my mind I compare some of the destinations I’ve gone thru.(Personal experience) Aruba/Immigration officer, ‘welcome, is it yr first time here’ an engaging conversation that volunteers information to break the ice completely.St.Kitts/Immigration..no eye contact..’where you from, where you going, how much money you have’ you wonder what you got yourself into..Puerto Rico/There you really feel alienated, thank god I only pass thru. First impressions count, others will say, its not the size of the wand, but the magic in it so when I’m in D/A I don’t know how to sing, but I feel like I want to sing and that’s enough to make my day.
And imagine they have some signs that are not so visible and only in English. so much French people that coming here. and to add insult to injury, they have security guards standing there saying “nationals here, international here” smh. “domestic, caicom, Caribbean here, international, french here” lol.
What an embarrassment to those security guards.
And they charging French visitors $59 departure tax to use that, when you pay nothing to leave Martinique or Guadeloupe with much better terminals. I think we should call it torture tax instead.
Stage performance at the top of the Ferry… Free show daily….!
Just hope you are clear from the Bayfront if storm conditions persists. – Flying white tarpaulin DOCK…! hahahaha…!
You’ll cannot be serious in thiis place. OMG SMH.
We have Dominican Geniuses all over the world who knows exactly how to developed their country. Do like the South Korean, Irish, Japanese , and other races. Come back home open busineses and developed Dominica. I bet you most of the people talking do not own companys in , Europe, Canada, or the US . 99 percent are peasant workers working for a weekly salry and live pay check to pay check, but they have all the answers to our problems. In their entire life time they will never take the risk to open a business , all they are working for is a pension. They will be proffesional beggers as long as they live.
In your little world only business owners can participate in nation building. This is the type of “Elitist Crap” that keeps Dominica backward in the first place. One does not have to be an expert to make a valuable and meaningful contribution to nation building. If there are no competent employees for the business and factories that you speak of, I wonder how these establishments would function.
Why don’t you move back to Dominica and establish a pig and chicken farm, then let us know how it turns out. Nation building means that everyone contributes, plays a role and engages in activities that benefits the entire island. Everyone discipline, every discipline and every profession is required to help achieve the desired results.
apparently a study of the current situation has not been done by a professional architect, since the issues at this complex are more than just procedural. for instance the arrival lounge is way to small to accommodate the volume of people who arrival, which is noticeable by the lines which remain outside of the actual building; spacial relationships are not functional causing circulation conflicts both horizontal and vertical. this minister has to realise that tourism is a lot about the built environment and those bad experience remain in the subconscious state. this complex was poorly designed and should in my opinion be relocated especially for the space constraints and issue of the vessels safety from the roll; not to mention the traffic and pedestrial conflicts; parking issues, i could go on if wish may! mediocrity… definition of our society
Oh my God! Who cobbled together this sad apology? Any McDonalds’s looks ten times better than this. As the French would say, affreux. Pull the damn thing down and build a proper terminal to impress our visitors.
All they there for- Always in the negative. Since the idea doesn’t come from their side nothing is never ever good for them BLUES.
Fast and Furious, don’t you see that monstrosity is a negative statement in itself? You think it gives a positive impression, especially to foreign visitors? Maybe you never left Dominica to see other countries so in your mind this is great. Yes, compared with a jupa it is great.
For real. What the hell is that? I could rock wih that being temporarily done to accomadate the busy WCMF week. But as a ong term solution? COME ON MAN!!!
If thats the next level then we done.
Like the cruise ship dock the ferry terminal is wrongly placed.Passengers has to stand for too long,especially standing in the sun and exposed to the road with traffic which is dasngerous for especially children.On entering Dominica via the ferry,while in the line awaiting to past immigration, German visitors and others were of the view that this island is not ready to recieve visitors.A French lady who once visited for a day also had the same to say,especially when it comes to the security officers and their approach.this will always be so,causeit’s a whole lot of labour party supporters at the ports,they are not fit to be the ones dealing with passengers,cause they are not trained and educated in such fieldof work
Spend a few million and make this an international seaport that Dominican can be proud of. This is the first impression our visitors will get of the country. Tell me what impression this would give
Listening to the Minister of Tourism lay out his plan for the Roseau Terminal, makes me realize how amateurish things are done in Dominica. Implement an “App” so that travelers could pay their departure tax on line. You can also add the tax to the cost of the ticket which would speed up departures at the terminal. Adding x-ray machines and scanners allows custom officers to process more passengers within a shorter space of time. And finally, if this is the first image that travelers are greeted with upon arrival at the terminal, we are truly in big trouble. I would not even post that photo on DNO. It’s a downright shame and disgrace!!!!
This is a hot dog for any storm, Waste of money, These folks needs better ideas.
indeed!!!!! The approaching storm may all go with this tent…….what a joke!!!!
This is certainly a short term fix. What do you suggest in the interim while a long term solution is being worked on? Please provide one better idea for the short term, not long term, since it will take several months if not years to implement.
And what difference is this going to make with the current situations being faced? Stuuuuuuuupes tan.
A tent! In principle nothing against that, after all Barbados airport is an essence a tent, albeit of a far superior construction. However, one serious flaw is immediately evident. This set-up compromises security. The new structure is open and immediately adjacent to public areas allowing for the passing of items to- & from with relative ease. How about dropping duty free bottle from the tent to someone waiting below?
PS. Forgot to mention the aerodynamic lift such a curved roof structure will generate, exerting considerable force on the roof of the building it is anchored to. It acts like a big aircraft wing. I hope the designers have taken this into account so that we do not experience an unplanned lift-off.
Well as they want it to operate as a airline/airport, i think that tent will fly away anytime. lol. Once it don\’t fly away with families and thier children. This structure is not presentable at all, i think better could have been done.
still waiting for the upgrades and that thing at the top of the building, yes it will shade off the sun and prevent the inside from being too packed but i am not sure if that was such of a good idea. Strong winds, children running around……hummmm, not sure about that.
Bad planning.. waste of money !
Botanical gardens allu picking dat up when hurricane pass.
About time!
Tonge break down the facility and build a new one its a disgrace,a tarp really,you guys are way behind time.