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{
    "id": 969313,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/969313/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 389,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nambale, ANC",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Sakwa Bunyasi",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2511,
        "legal_name": "John Sakwa Bunyasi",
        "slug": "john-sakwa-bunyasi"
    },
    "content": "In the olden days, there used to be some payment. It was only a shilling in our days. Some cost recovery was helpful if the Government is unable to fund it fully. We know the Governments do not fund fully where the payment is totally on taxes. It is more like it is doing a favour to citizens. You cannot question it because the Government is paying forgetting that the Government paying is the taxpayer footing his or her own cost. I think we have some way to go. This is an example of areas where, with what is within our means, we are not utilizing it. Whereas we should look for new vehicles to cross the Likoni Channel, we should also see if we can begin to build to ourselves internally and import the expertise if anybody says we do not have it as yet. Maritime engineering as an area of specialization and dry dock repair, fixing and reconstructing has been there before most of the people in this House were born. Are we still not able to do it? I really think we should seriously think about how to revamp the ferry services. In doing so, the paradigm must not be we always want to run to Europe and buy what has done 50 years there and we attempt to bring it to this side. It must be that we can leapfrog and build or buy different types that we can repair and build as we go forward. I agree with the previous speaker that we must care about the quality of the ferries that cross, but let us also think about the economy of this country. To tourism as a whole, that crossing is very important. I am sure hotels in the South Coast have always been wondering when they will be like their North Coast cousins who are advantaged because of their bridge. By the way, the bridge was built by the Japanese, replacing the pontoon bridges we used to have, so that hotels at the South Coast can get visitors within the equal measure of choice that any guest would choose - whether to go to the South Coast or the North Coast. I am encouraged that the link through Port Reitz through the Dogo Kundu going off to the South Coast will alleviate the pressure on ferry crossing. There are very many ordinary citizens, workers as we have been told, who depend on it crucially. Let us upgrade it. Let us modernise it. Let us use that to learn how we might build our large ships in the future. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker."
}