Derelict Public Transportation Services Corporation (PTSC) buses will soon be given a new lease on life, as they will be used to create artificial reefs around the coast of T&T. Yesterday Transport Minister Stephen Cadiz said he was working with the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) to use the 45 decommissioned buses. “I hope that we will be able to make further use of these old chassis by making artificial reefs where fish will breed in them and increase the fish count,” Cadiz said as he spoke with reporters during a tour of the PTSC garage at Lady Hailes Avenue, San Fernando, yesterday.
The minister said similar reefs were successfully created 20 years ago. He said the derelict buses from South Quay and San Fernando would be removed to PTSC’s facility in Carlsen Field where they would be further decommissioned. “Before we make an artificial reef with them, we have to get EMA to sign them off and make sure that all liquids, anything that would damage the environment, has to be removed, and we will then begin making artificial reefs,” Cadiz said. Artificial reefs are a popular use for derelict vehicles and ships around the world and are strategically placed in coastal areas to be colonised by soft corals and plants and encourage spawning of fish.
Cadiz said his ministry was in talks with the Ministry of Land and Marine Resources, Fisheries Division and the EMA to decide where the buses would be put. He said there would be little to no cost to PTSC for the project since the private sector and the Game Fishing Association had come forward to help with the creation of the reefs. “They say they will lend us a hand by proving cranage, etc, to the exercise. It will be a combined effort from PTSC, the ministries, the people who will benefit, fishermen and the Game Fishing Association. It is an all-out effort from everybody.”
CNG buses to roll soon
Cadiz announced that this weekend PTSC’s in-house CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) fuelling station at South Quay, Port-of-Spain would be formally commissioned. This would pave the way for the integration of its new fleet of CNG-powered buses, he added. On Sunday the 35 new Sunlong buses, made in China, arrived at the Port-of-Spain port. He said the buses, which cost $38 million, were being commissioned and licensed. “I am hoping by the first week in December we would have the brand new buses out on the road which will again greatly improve the run-out (number of buses on routes at a given time),” Cadiz said.
He said converting the PTSC’s fleet to CNG would not only reduce the corporation’s operating costs but was better for the environment. Cadiz said he decided to tour the San Fernando facility to see firsthand some of the issues staff were experiencing. Transport and Industrial Workers Union (TIWU) shop steward Kervyn Edwards said workers had health and safety concerns, as well as issues with lack of equipment. Cadiz assured that his ministry was working with the PTSC management and board to address all concerns so the bus company would be more efficient and effective.