Rankin Inlet (May 21/03) - Things are going so smoothly in Desgagnes Transarctik Inc.'s efforts to organize this year's sealift in the Kivalliq, even its general manager is surprised.

Waguih Rayes visited a number of Kivalliq hamlets earlier this month to provide information to customers. And, while there are still a number of challenges to be met, Rayes said he's quite pleased with the way things have been progressing.

"To my great surprise, I have found people to be having relatively no difficulty in accessing suppliers out of Montreal," said Rayes. "My main concern has always been those who want to order a snowmobile or food out of Montreal.

Rayes said Transarctik will not compete with local companies in the freight-delivery business.

He said Transarctik will deliver goods to the high-water mark, and make arrangements with local companies to pick up the cargo from there and deliver it to the customer's door.

"We have already talked to M&T in Rankin and I trust they can handle the cargo aspect of the process.

"We're not sure how the billing for that will work, but I would prefer people to deal directly with their local cargo companies."

While a number of questions were asked during Rayes's meeting with Rankin Inlet hamlet council, the most direct suggestion came from Mayor Lorne Kusugak.

The mayor told Rayes a toll free number was not the answer when 80 per cent of Rankin's population is more comfortable with Inuktitut.

"Your company should look hard at putting a bilingual employee in place here in Rankin for customers to talk to," said Kusugak.

"It took us years to get that from the last company (NTCL), but we did and it worked."

Rayes responded by saying although that's not possible during the first year, his company is sensitive to the needs of its Inuit customers.

"We have a three-year contract with the Nunavut government, with a possible two-year extension done one year at a time.

"Although we won't be able to accomplish it this year, we will be opening an office in the Kivalliq region or having local Co-op stores act as our local representatives.

"We can't force any Co-op that isn't interested, but we will work hard with those who are to provide quality service to our local customers."