TTMA head: Things look bleak for Christmas

PRESIDENT OF the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA) Anthony Aboud said he did not see business having a “bumper Christmas” this year, given the problems manufacturers and other business proprietors are facing as a result of the backlog on the port. In an interview with Newsday, Aboud said prices may increase and people may not benefit from the “savings and offers” that are usually passed on to them by businessmen, because of the problems involved with clearing goods on the port. He said these problems cost businesses money and while they may not really want to increase the prices of their goods, they may not have a choice.

Aboud also explained that apart from financial losses, business people were also faced with a “credibility problem” when they are unable to deliver products to their customers on time. “Nobody wants to hear you are having problems to clear your goods at the port. That is not his problem,” said Aboud. “And when you can’t deliver on time, you lose credibility with your clients.” Aboud said that the problem they were experiencing at both ports, had affected both the import and export of goods and services from this country. He said there were a number of manufacturing plants that have been unable to get their raw materials on a timely basis, resulting in missed deadlines. He said the problem was not a small one and added that the issues of real estate, equipment and management systems must be dealt with. He said over the last few years the ports’ capacity had been growing and management systems must be able to manage it.

“Shipping costs have doubled, the bigger vessels were refusing to come to Trinidad because of the time it takes to offload the goods here. We cannot continue to function like this,” said Aboud. Meanwhile, Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (PATT) chairman, Noel Garcia, yesterday gave the assurance that businessmen who use the Port-of-Spain port would not have any problems receiving their goods over the Christmas season. Garcia told Newsday the issues which caused the Haulers Association to take strike action during the recent opening of Berth 7 at the Port-of-Spain port have, by and large, been resolved. The PATT chairman said a meeting would be held today at the Finance Ministry between all the stakeholders and he did not anticipate any hiccups.