Price of the Windward Ferry may increase significantly

ORANJESTAD/THE BOTTOM – The price of the Makana Ferry, which maintains a ferry service between Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius and Saba, may soon become significantly more expensive.

The price increase is due to the expiration of the subsidy scheme, which until now kept ticket prices artificially low. Although the Netherlands makes money available to enter into a so-called Public Service Obligation (PSO), which partly subsidizes prices, the parties cannot yet agree on the conditions for that PSO.

In response to questions from ABC Online Media, the Saba Executive Council says it attaches great importance to continuing the ferry service and also keeping ticket prices affordable.

Representative Arlene Spanner of St. Eustatius has not yet responded to the same questions. The file has reportedly been on Spanner’s desk for some time, without much progress.

Without subsidy

The owner of Makana has so far kept ticket prices the same after the subsidy scheme expired, but says he can no longer maintain that. If the new subsidy scheme is not finalized before May 15, the residents of St. Eustatius and Saba will pay about 50% more for a return ticket than they currently do.

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