Labour problems continue at the port of POS

Photo by Nicole Drayton

Labour shortages at the Port of Port of Spain continue to create a nightmare for hauliers. On Tuesday, hauliers said the main or western gate to the port remained closed because maintenance crews did not come out to work. Problems at the port began last week when workers downed tools, citing a range of issues, including health and safety concerns and stalled wage negotiations, which disrupted operations.

On Friday, workers returned to work, but on Monday the situation reverted, and as a result, the port issued a news release on Monday evening stating that because of a reduction in labour, there were no operations at the container vessel operations and at the container terminal operations.

The Couva Point Lisas Chamber (CPLCC) head, Deoraj Mahase, said the Container Examination Station (CES) at the Port of Port of Spain was closed approximately five weeks ago due to a rat infestation and remains closed.

Mahase said while there has been a good effort by the authorities to release containers for delivery and examination, the duration of time for appointments is lengthy and causing challenges for brokers, importers, hauliers, and the business community. Mahase noted that CES fees are still being charged, and while this may be according to regulations, some level of courtesy can be extended based on the present situation.

Regarding the labour issues at the Port of Port of Spain, the CPLCC said this matter is causing further challenges notwithstanding the efforts by the relevant authorities to resolve the situation last week. He said the Chamber has been informed that the NAVIS Terminal Operating System was non-functional, creating further challenges to make appointments, process deliveries, and check rent.

The Association of T&T Hauliers (ATTH) said the industrial action has severely compromised its members’ ability to provide essential services, significantly impacting both import and export operations. The ATTH stated, “The strike has resulted in the inability to load and offload full and empty containers, which is critical to maintaining the flow of goods.

The absence of Rubber Tyred Gantry Cranes (RTGs) operations means that no ships are currently able to load or unload their cargoes. Consequently, the operational standstill is creating a ripple effect of disruptions to our clients and the broader supply chain.

Our clients are directly affected, as they cannot retrieve their imported containers nor have their containers processed and exported. Such disruptions have immediate consequences on business operations and supply chains, affecting the availability of goods in various sectors.”

ATTH warned that prolonged interruptions could lead to significant backlogs, impacting our nation’s trade commitments and potentially incurring substantial financial losses. The operational gridlock may also necessitate alternative logistical arrangements, which could increase costs and delays.

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