Tobago cargo problems

PORT Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (PATT) and Tobago House of Assembly officials met with Tobago hardware dealers last Friday to discuss several grouses that the fraternity has been experiencing recently. The dealers have complained that over the past few months they have been facing significant hardship and losses as a result of the inefficiency of the PATT cargo system.

A major concern was their inability to store large amounts of goods on the Port compound at Port-of-Spain as UDeCott is now utilising the area normally reserved for cargo, to store its material. UDeCott is currently involved in a development project on the compound at Wrightson Road. The dealers had further pointed out that although they were advised by Port officials to store less goods on the compound to influence faster transfers, a problem concerning the capacity of the vessels to transport the items has surfaced.

With The Cat off the route and the Lynx not being able to carry heavy vehicles, the fast ferry offers no relief to their problems. They have however, taken heart in the fact that the Panorama will resume operations in mid-June though the problems will most likely resurface as the Beauport leaves at the end of June. Leon Grant, executive deputy manager of Government Shipping Services (GSS), was present at the meeting and requested that the dealers list their concerns as well as their suggestions, which include the use of barges, in a letter to himself and THA Chief Secretary Orville London by next Friday.