Customs station to move from PoS port

Imbert’s disclosure came as measures implemented by the Customs and Excise Division (which operates the CES) went into effect yesterday at the port, and all stakeholders expressed optimism that they would be effective.

Imbert told Newsday that he had been closely monitoring the situation at the CES over the last two weeks and met yesterday with Junior Finance Minister Conrad Enill to get an update about the situation. Imbert said that the CES problems were a customs matter and not one for the Port Authority of TT (PATT). PATT is responsible for offloading cargo on to the port, while customs determines if that cargo should go to the CES for further examination or be released shortly after arrival.

Noting that the Point Lisas port does not experience Port-of-Spain port’s problems because the former’s CES is outside the compound, Imbert said he believes it would be "a good idea" to relocate the Port-of-Spain CES from its present location to a site at Invaders Bay.

He added that the CES relocation did not require Cabinet approval because it was a straightforward transaction.

Meanwhile, Imbert said customs (which falls under the Finance Ministry) has intervened to resolve the current mix-up at the PoS CES. Those measures include doubling the number of customs officers at the CES, pre-screening of containers before they reach the CES and other agencies (such as TT Bureau of Standards and the Health Ministry’s Food and Drugs Division), and screening relative containers at their respective compounds. Imbert said the Finance Ministry is confident that these measures would significantly reduce backlogs at the CES. He reiterated that this was not "a port problem." TT Manufacturers Association (TTMA) president Paul Quesnel, Customs Brokers and Clerks Association president Michael Andrews and TT Hauliers Association general secretary Curtis Seepersad expressed optimism that the measures would work, saying that their organisations will be closely monitoring the situation. Quesnel said operations at the CES had improved but the effects of the measures may not be visible until Friday. PATT officials yesterday said there was no backlog on the port and the problems were specifically at the CES.

Quesnel and Seepersad said there was no evidence to suggest that the container with suspect bird feathers from China may have contributed to current delays at the CES. Sources indicated that even if the container, as stated by Seamen and Waterfront Workers’ Trade Union president Michael Annisette, is still at the CES, it would have been placed in a secure area, and would not be hampering the CES operations and is not posing a threat to anyone. One source expressed optimism that the container should be fumigated before the end of the week.