Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John said yesterday there was no backlog of cargo at the Port of Port of Spain or at the Scarborough port in Tobago.
But Tobago businesspeople maintained there were still major problems with cargo going to the sister island.
John visited the Blue Wave Harmony cargo vessel in Port of Spain yesterday and met with senior executives and operational teams to assess cargo handling performance, vessel turnaround times and storage capacity.
In a release, she noted “with concern the inaccurate narrative being circulated regarding the operations of the inter-island sea bridge”. She emphasised that the on-site review confirmed:
—There is currently no cargo backlog in Trinidad or Tobago.
—The Blue Wave Harmony, which has 1,925 lane metres of cargo has the capacity to serve the needs of the country, with supplemental capacity being provided by passenger vessels which can accommodate up to 7,000 kgs cargo vehicles.
—Since the commencement of sailings of the Blue Wave Harmony, no cargo has remained at the ports in Trinidad or Tobago awaiting transportation, and all cargo presented for shipment has been cleared for sailing.
She said the Blue Wave Harmony is currently in its sea-trial phase.
This forms part of a controlled operational roll-out aligned with internationally recognised maritime safety standards governing vessel certification, pilotage and overall operational readiness across the global shipping industry, the release noted.
Upon completion of the sea trials, the vessel is expected to enter its commercial phase on March 1.
Hadad: What about the companies who had to throw away chicken and chocolates?
But Tobago business owner Diane Hadad described the release by the ministry as inaccurate.
“Let me start by saying that cargo is not allowed to remain on the port, so that is a non-question and a non-statement. That has zero effect either way, we are not allowed to leave cargo on the ports so they can never have a backlog of cargo on the port. That is point number one. So because the system is more or less roll on, roll off, it’s either we load trucks and be ready to drive on and drive off. The uncertainty of the boat sailing is where and the time is where the big issues are, and the boat is being loaded in the morning and not leaving until ten in the night, so we load as if we are leaving at 2 p.m.; but the boat never physically departs until 10 p.m.; therefore it gets into Tobago the following day, so there is a risk of the goods being on the ferry a very long time unnecessarily and being compromised. But I understand that the minister was on the port and they claim there were no issues and if they claim there were no issues, I would like the companies who had to throw away chicken, who had to send back chocolates to Trinidad, who were worried about the butter and frozen strawberries and blueberries and the biscuits that carry cheese paste and so, I would like to know why we have such silence around all of these things,” Hadad said.
Former THA Secretary and businessman Clarence Jacob called on THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine to stop playing politics with the MV Blue Wave Harmony fiasco.
Jacob spoke yesterday at his business place in Bon Accord.
“(Farley) is moving the issue from an old regime to a new regime is simply saying to me that it was happening then, so if it happens now let us be quiet and be patient. I think as a chief secretary he is there to mind the business of the people and the people of Tobago. He’s the Chief Secretary of Tobago,” Jacob said.
Jacob identified what he said were major issues plaguing the MV Blue Wave Harmony: the standby arrangement for truckers, inconsistent departure and arrival times, inadequate parking at the Port of Spain port, and security concerns.
“We go to the port with perishables and there and then is when we are able to purchase a ticket; so we go on a standby basis with our goods, hoping that we get through to sail, which I think is very dangerous for us on the cold storage line,” he stated.
Back in December, he said he stocked up in anticipation of the January 12 departure of the Cabo Star. However, despite those preparations, he still ran out of key items including chicken, cowheel and flour. In an effort to support fellow businesses in Tobago, he also resold some of his stock to other shop owners who had shortages.
He said the release issued by the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure yesterday was nothing more than an attempt to save face after the storm, arguing that the statement should have been issued earlier when the vessel was first damaged in Scarborough and when ramp issues emerged.
