The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

MAIL boat operators have been calling for a tariff increase "for some time now, its Association president confirming the matter will be raised with the Minnis administration.

"We have been advocating for an increase in the tariff for sometime now. That is nothing new. That has been ongoing for years. We do intend bring the issue up with the current administration," said Raphael Moxey.

Last week, Roderick Simms, chair of the Chamber's Family Island division, told Tribune Business he was receiving constant complaints from the southern Bahamas that some mail boats were not abiding by government-imposed freight tariffs.

Revealing that other parts of the Bahamas have also been impacted by this practice, Mr Simms said businesses and consumers were being equally impacted by price fluctuations resulting from mail boat operators "charging whatever they want to charge".

He added that other complaints related to infrequent sailings; missing goods; and perishables that went bad during voyages because refrigeration equipment was broken.

Mr Simms called for "a national conversation" on reforming the mail boat sector and inter-island freight transportation, arguing that the Bahamas had "kicked the can down the road" far too often.

Mr Moxey told Tribune Business that mail boat operators are set to meet this week to address the points raised in the article, and issues. "Our concerns have pretty much been known to government," he added.

"We have not met with this government as yet. We met with the previous government and a former incarnation of the FNM government."

Responding to the alleged price fluctuations, Mr Moxey said: "I have heard those rumors before. They have been addressed. I have always said to persons that whenever they feel that they have been over charged by an operator in the Mail Boat Association that they should lodge their complaint with the Ministry."