Protesters were hanging on Sunday as officials tried to make progress in plans to move the MV Legionnaire to Fogo Island-Change Islands-Farewell.
Bell Islanders are furious, and maintain that the replacement ferry, Beaumont Hamel along with the Flanders are not capable of handling the traffic flow required by the population.
The transfer of the Legionnaire will make multiple trips necessary each morning by the Beaumont Hamel in order to handle the number of people who must commute from the island for work, medical appointments and shopping, protesters say.
Sunday afternoon The Telegram heard from Bell Island resident Lloyd @XXPurecountryXX via Twitter, who disagreed with the protest.
“Fogo needs Legionnaire more than Bell Island right now,” he wrote. “And we are getting the Beaumont and starting earlier 5 am.
“Protesting or partying? They got music food drinks down at wharf havin’ a good ol’ time. My parents went down had big feed.
“Protesting (is) not going solve anything.
“Legionnaire not left for Fogo yet.” he said shortly after 3 p.m.. “It was supposed to yesterday (Saturday). Beaumont can't leave Fogo ‘til Legionnaire gets there. I was told 14 hrs to sail there. By Monday morning have 1 boat instead of 2,” he wrote.
“So what has protesting caused? Havoc for working commuters like myself.”
Saturday at suppertime protesters were waving signs an d shouting, “No go Fogo,” from the dock at Portugal Cove –St. Philip’s landing as the Legionnaire let cars exit from the ferry that was supposed to be on its last passenger run before leaving to cover the Fogo Island-Change Islands Farewell run for the MV Veteran, which is undergoing repairs for the next few months.
Although the protest was noisy Saturday, participants did not get in the way of people coming and going to the vessel. Police who responded to the scene took no action because of this. The ferry later returned to Bell Island for the night.
As of Sunday morning the ferry was still tied up to the dock at Bell Island and protesters continued to stand on the ramp and the dock to prevent it from leaving. Some had been there all night, stoking a fire barrel.
The protest drew mixed reaction on social media.
“People who choose to live on Bell Island or any other island in the Province should have to pay for their own ferry,” Anna @Anna85040712 tweeted Saturday.
The Telegram is following this story and will provide updates when they become available.
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Bell Island protest ongoing
Replacement ferries for Legionnaire can’t handle the demand, protesters say
“No Go Fogo,” around 20 protesters shouted from the dock at Portugal Cove –St. Philip’s landing Saturday suppertime as the MV Legionnaire let cars exit from the ferry that was supposed to be on its last passenger run before leaving to cover the Fogo Island-Change Islands Farewell run for the MV Veteran, which is undergoing repairs for the next few months.
Although the protest was noisy, participants did not get in the way of people coming and going to the vessel. Police who responded to the scene took no action because of this. The ferry later returned to Bell Island.
As of Sunday morning the ferry was still tied up to the dock at Bell Island and protesters continued to stand on the ramp and the dock to prevent it from leaving. Some had been there all night.
Bell Islanders are furious, and maintain that the replacement ferries, the Beaumont Hamel and the Flanders are adequately able to handle the traffic flow required by the islands's population. The transfer of the Legionnaire will make multiple trips necessary each morning in order to handle the number of people who must commute from the island for work, medical appointments and shopping, protesters say.
The protest drew mixed reaction on social media.
“People who choose to live on Bell Island or any other island in the Province should have to pay for their own ferry,” Anna @Anna85040712 tweeted Saturday.
The Telegram is following this story and will provide updates when they become available.