Dockyard that it is sad to read suggestions that a lack of adequate ferry service may be threatening the most successful project Bermuda has undertaken in many years.

When t he project to revitalise Dockyard and turn it into an area useful, interesting and beneficial to Bermuda began, there were many doubters. It was difficult for people to believe that an area which was virtually derelict, which was seldom visited, and which had been allowed to decay into a sad historical curiosity could become a vital and viable part of Bermuda. But Dockyard is a success and it seems to get better every day. Once virtually abandoned, Dockyard, with the cash backing of Government and the ingenuity of WEDCO, is now a tourist attraction, a place of entertainment and a shopping centre all in one unusual and highly attractive setting. Its cruise ship, its character, its shops, the museum, the art gallery and the market combine to make Dockyard another major attraction for visitors at a time when we need to supply more.

In a Country where people often moan and complain about anything new or different there is almost never an adverse comment about Dockyard these days.

Indeed, the opposite is true. Bermudians are proud of what has happened at Dockyard. The East End is even envious and beginning to take pointers from WEDCO.

So why are we not doing everything we can to encourage people to make the trip to Dockyard? Why are we not providing good bus and ferry service? One of the problems is that Government operates in rather rigid compartments, each guarding its own agenda and its own budget and it is hard to get departments to communicate or to assist with projects other than their own. That is very evident when Tourism asks for help. It is true between Customs and Immigration. It is very evident at the Airport.

Now transport seems to be standing in the way of letting people enjoy Dockyard. Where would Resort Bermuda be without air service? Not every plane comes in full. Not every plane shows a profit. It's the same thing. Dockyard is nowhere without ferry service. Not every run will be full and not every run will show a profit but visitors and Bermudians deserve service. We have to get behind WEDCO and support this great improvement because for lack of something so basic as a ferry ride we could kill it in its infancy. We must not be so short-sighted.

Yet Bermuda gets excuses about the cost to Government of running the ferries while we talk about getting traffic off the roads. We constantly raise the fares and cut the service. That's not the answer. The answer is to promote a demand for ferries to the West End.

It may well be that WEDCO, which has demonstrated that it is an innovator and a good manager, should be handed the Government ferries and allowed to run them to the West End. WEDCO was squelched when it suggested a hydrofoil to Dockyard but has not been given an efficient alternative. If Government cannot run the ferries WEDCO needs to keep Dockyard viable, then let WEDCO run the ferries. If Government cannot encourage people to use the ferries, give the job to WEDCO. We think WEDCO would promote ferry rides to the West End both for fun and for transportation.

Bermuda will never know how many people can be encouraged to use the ferries if the ferries are not scheduled for use. We have been told that ferry service is unlikely to be increased. There are benefits to be had from transportation that cannot be narrowly measured in dollars alone. The enjoyment and convenience of visitors must be a primary concern. If Government will not turn over the service to WEDCO, then it should provide as much service as WEDCO asks and challenge WEDCO to provide sufficient passengers or else subsidise those runs which do not break even.

It would be a great shame to have the Dockyard project damaged because we want to save some dollars on transport. Clearly, as the project progresses, the transport demand will grow but we will never know how much it will be used if we never provide the service. Come on, join in the success. Let WEDCO revitalise the ferries, it has revitalised Dockyard.