Bomb scare sends Port workers running

Operations on the Port-of-Spain docks came to a complete standstill around 10.30 am yesterday when multiple bomb threats were phoned in for Sheds Four, Nine and Ten, as well as Berth Six West.

Communications manager at the Port Authority of TT, Betty-Ann Gibbons, said they received two calls, the first of which specifically referred to Shed Four, which was said to contain a 20-foot container filled with explosives. The second call, she revealed, threatened Sheds Nine and Ten, and Berth Six West. Shed Four conducts a lot of commercial work with respect to stuffing of barrels and containers, and is commonly known to handle break bulk cargo. Speaking to Newsday outside the Port’s administration building, divisional human resource manager Sheldon Baptiste said such an occurrence was “highly unusual” and that this was the first such threat for the year. He also revealed that there was a threat to the terminal itself, and as a result, the authorities decided to evacuate the entire Port, which included staff at the administration building, Port workers and daily paid employees.

Admitting that “a few hundred workers” had been affected by yesterday’s bomb scare, Baptiste said the shut-down in operations would definitely impact on the Port’s productivity. Gibbons confirmed that the calls had been received around 10.30 am and that employees had been immediately evacuated in accordance with the Port’s safety procedures. She stated that fire officials accompanied by the Port’s security, as well as officers of the Central Police Station had conducted a sweep of the area, but that nothing had been found. President of the Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union (SWWTU), Michael Annisette, said he had been advised that there had been a bomb threat to the Port. Adding that he also found it unusual, Annisette said there were no ongoing industrial relations matters or problems which could be responsible for yesterday’s act. Instead, he stated “The seamen union does not behave so, as it is not in the interest of the workers, the Port or shippers. We do not condone or support such actions.” Gibbons also confirmed that there were no outstanding industrial matters.

When Newsday visited the Port around 11.30 am, workers were seen milling around the canteen, anxiously waiting on officials to complete their exercises so that they could return to work. Newsday was later informed that work resumed at approximately 1 pm. In connection with this matter, more than 300 officers and civilian staff based at Wrightson Road Fire Station were evacuated from the building due to reports of the container of explosives being stored behind the station. Public relations officer of the Fire Services, John Springle, said bomb experts were called in, and the area was searched. However, nothing was found. Springle said a container carrying explosives cannot be cleared unless police and fire officers are present. Newsday learnt that the persons who called the Port about the explosives in containers also called the Port-of-Spain Prison saying that explosives had been planted in prison vehicles and inside the prison. Prison officers were seen carrying out checks on vehicles parked outside the Port-of-Spain Prison.