Dear Sir,

I have sent this letter of complaint to the Department of Marine and Ports about the reduction in ferry service on the Pink Route. I am the manager of a guesthouse whose customers rely heavily on this service; it has been reduced enough already over the years.

A guest remarked to me recently that Marine and Ports treats the people of this neighbourhood like second-class citizens. This is not the kind of reputation we are striving for to keep our hospitality business sector alive. This service is an essential link for residents of this area.

Am I really to understand that as well as the reduced service on weekdays, we will have no service at all on weekends?

Can the Government not see the knock-on effect this kind of thing causes?

Fewer visitors will want to come to this area, and the ones who do will not be going into town for the evening. They will stay in and not patronise the restaurants or bars, they will not be hiring a taxi to bring them back later. Guesthouses and hotels will suffer, and jobs will be lost.

Please, whoever is responsible for this decision, think about the consequences and restore our ferry service.

JAN QUINN

Paget