TTMA slams inefficiencies at TT’s ports

The Ports Authority came in for some heavy criticism yesterday by members of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA.)

The inefficiencies of the port of Port-of-Spain became a topic of discussion during the Exporters Forum, organised by the association and hosted by Scotiabank at the bank’s conference centre in Port-of-Spain. While the agenda was set for discussion on the new US Bio-terrorism Act 2002 and security at the country’s ports, during question time the issue of the inefficiencies at the country’s ports took centre stage. Mervyn Pierre, who represented the Port Authority, was questioned at length following his delivery, concerning whether or not the port is truly ready for the implementation of increased security. He assured the audience that the port was working assiduously to improve all round operations at the port. He said the port police had been upgraded and work was now being done in other areas like fencing, lighting and manpower. Pierre described the situation as a “formidable challenge” but insisted that if all the stakeholders got together, “what we do will impact on all our trade partners.”

Speaking first, Scotiabank’s managing director Richard Young told his audience it was imperative that there be major improvements in border control, since ports can be easy targets for militants. He said if the matter was not dealt with properly, the consequences could be far reaching, since failure to act could place us on the outside. In his turn, Anthony Hosang, outgoing president of the TTMA described 2004 as a “most challenging year as we count down to 2005 and the Free Trade Area of the Americas comes into effect.” The TTMA boss said that at a recent meeting in Miami, he appealed to the powers that be that Trinidad and Tobago would be willing to assist and work closely with the US in the implementation of the new act, “but we cannot afford it. But if they pay for it, we will help them run it.”