GRASS ROOTS: Second vessel service or road to resettlement!

Grass roots support is always welcome to demonstrate the critical need for a user-friendly and reliable second vessel ferry service. Without a second vessel service Bell Island is going down the road to resettlement.

A two-vessel service ensures Bell Island a good chance of having a 1-vessel service 95% of the time. When there is only one vessel as we had several years ago in the fall /winter period we had frustration, a dying economy, very high employment and extremely high dependency on income support and a defeatist attitude with no confidence in Bell Island's future.

When the previous administration expanded the second vessel service and schedule to year round the REBOUND BEGAN.

The new PC Administration following a monumental effort by our Users Committee was convinced not only to continue to second vessel service but also extend the second vessel to operate 5 weekday mornings.

What a success story that followed. WE HAD A USER FRIENDLY SERVICE

a. Commuter worker use has risen from around 300 per year to well over 500-worker access passes issued so far in 2005.

b. Employment is up and income support payments are down and Bell Islanders now report over $30,000,000 in annual tax return reported income.

c. Tourism has soared with over 40,000 non-resident visitors to Bell Island for the 15 week summer period. Yes that is 40,000 non-resident visitors with record numbers (close to 20,000) visiting the mine tour. One of the top most visited tourist attractions in the Province.

d. Bell Island's economy is rebounding with employment expanded at the fish plant to over 70 and new businesses establishing and existing ones doing better.

e. Over 550 people are gainfully employed on Bell Island and another 500 plus commuting.

f. Investment in local property has gone through the roof with major property upgrades. Real estate prices are at record unimaginable levels and people are moving from the mainland and buying homes and settling on Bell Island.

Yes a great economic success story made possible by the Governments’ of the day investing $1,500,000 a year or $1,500 a job to support a second ferry investment.

Government needs to know that their investment is welcomed and needed and that the second vessel is our lifeline and Bell Island's future. Can you recall the pre- second vessel days that discouraged commuters, drove away business, made tourism growth impossible and were one hell of a frustration? Getting to and from Bell Island was a challenge.

One vessel equalled a non user-friendly service:

1. No service when the main ferry broke down.

2. No early morning commuter service when there was an overnight medical trip callout.

3. Late for work

4. Long line-ups and waits at peak period travel.

5. Disincentives to travel

6. No noontime service from 1200 to 200pm. If you missed the 1200 noon ferry the next vessel did not leave until 240 pm.

7. Additional costs for businesses

An "attachment" outlines further detail on life with and without the second vessel. PLEASE REVIEW THE CASE FOR THE SECOND FERRY

Those interested in ensuring Government remains committed to Bell Island's lifeline second vessel ferry service may let their views be known by contacting our Government and or Committee members -see below:

Hopefully the Webmaster for this site can set up a FEEDBACK and create a forum for your views.

PERHAPS YOU WANT TO TELL YOUR STORY OR RELATE YOUR HARDSHIPS WHEN THE SERVICE IS REDUCED TO 1 VESSEL. Visit the User Feedback Section of the Ferry Users Website.