Dear Sir,

I have been a commuter on the Rockaway ferry for three years. I used to enjoy catching the ferry. It was peaceful.

The service now is disgusting — late and deplorable.

Several Bermudians catch this ferry daily but during tourist season we are treated like second-class citizens in our own country because the ferries are made available to visitors.

On one of the ferries, the air conditioner has been broken for more than a year. I contacted Marine and Ports and was informed it would be fixed by next week. Next week has come and gone and the air conditioner is still not repaired. This was last year. I guess next week has not come yet.

The bathroom toilets are out of operation on another ferry. This has been so for months. There is a sign on the door “stating out of service”. There was a young school girl on the ferry recently who had to use the bathroom only to be informed it was out of service.

Commuters from Rockaway, Carvello Bay, Dockyard and tourists are catching the same ferries. There are too many commuters on one ferry. Commuters are racing to board the ferries. People are noisy and large crowds are waiting to get aboard.

Recently, it was raining all afternoon and the terminal was crowded. Apparently, a ferry broke down. A commuter contacted the ferry terminal because the ferry was late as usual, only to be told it would be here in 10–15 minutes. No one communicated this information to us.

There is always a lack of communication from Marine and Ports. Ferry commuters have to fend for themselves and find information.

Ferry commuters, you all need to complain to Marine and Ports via e-mail, telephone, The Royal Gazette etc, and let your feelings be known. The ferry prices have increased, the service has decreased.

SPEAK UP, Southampton