The inconveniences of the congestion and limited seating availability and general poor accommodation at the Montserrat ferry terminal in Antigua are issues that have been significantly improved with official opening by the Donaldson Romeo led People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) government of new and upgraded facilities at the Heritage Quay, Antigua on Friday, March 13, 2015.
A contingent the government including all the Ministers, Willock, Osborne and Dr. Buffonge, along with Access Coordinator, the tourism director, General Manager of the Montserrat’s Port and press personnel, and others ferried to Antigua for the occasion.
Communication and Works Minister Hon. Paul Lewis says they will continue toare work with the Antiguan authorities to make more facilities are available which can accommodate returning nationals and visitors especially at the busy period of the year. “We have been working tirelessly with the Antiguan government to make sure that appropriate facilities are available to accommodate both returning Montserratians and visitors to the island,” he said
The minister elaborated that improving access is a work in progress “we are very mindful that improving access is a work in progress.”
In October 2014, Minister Lewis and a team journeyed to Antigua on a mission to improve the access between Montserrat and Antigua, He and other officials who accompanied him met with several key government officials discussing making access easier for passengers enroute through Antigua. Some time after that visitthe Antiguan Immigration office was moved making it easy for passengers disembarking and embanking onto the ferry.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works and housing in Antigua and Barbuda Walter Christopher who is a Montserratians by birth gave the Antiguan government reassurance for continue and unwavering commitment to continue the mutual relationship that exist between the two countries “I know this tremendous facility will add to making travel between Antigua and Montserrat more relaxing and a pleasant experience. As the representative of the ministry of works I want to assure the people of Montserrat of the Antiguan government’s unwavering commitment to sustaining the family like relationship that has historically existed between our territories,”
In His address to the gathering at the new terminal Premier Donaldson Romeo thanked the Antiguan government for their assistance to the Montserratians people who flee to their shores during the 20 years of volcanic eruption. “This location at Heritage Quay brings to mind the events of almost 20 years ago when just after the volcano erupted hundreds when thousnads of Montserratians fled to Antigua shores by boat docks here at Heritage Quay. It reminds me of the unbreakable bonds of shared history between Montserrat and Antigua and Barbuda.”
The new terminal is equipped with bathroom facilities, a restaurant and bar and lounge facilities. Itis located at the head of the current jetty used to access the ferry. It also serves as a tourism information desk among other things related to visiting Montserrat
It is expected that in the not too distant future the ferry check-in point as well as immigration offices will all be housed inside the new terminal facility.
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