N&M boat sails past TT

PRESIDENT of the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA) Gregory Aboud, said while the association agrees with Trade and Industry Minister Kenneth Valley, who said the Port problems were due to “growing pains,” he wanted the assurance that these pains would not “paralyse or cripple the patients.” Aboud also noted that the “discomfort of growing pains should be minimal at all costs.” The statement came as a vessel belonging to Neal and Massy subsidiary CMA/CGM —  “the Caribbean” — allegedly bypassed the Port-of-Spain port yesterday with cargo intended for Trinidad, as well as leaving behind cargo intended for export.

Aboud said the situation called for urgent action, noting that this practice could have a serious impact on the export of goods from Trinidad, as well as on the price of goods within the country. Calls to CMA/CGM were redirected to Neal and Massy to no avail. On the statement by the acting manager of Plipdeco, Capt Rawle Badaloo, that the Point Lisas Port had room for container storage, Aboud said the association agreed with that statement, noting that while the Point Lisas port had its problems, they were dealing with the situation and not allowing it to get out of hand. Also commenting on the situation, Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA) president Anthony Aboud explained that a number of the association’s members have made alternative arrangements to have their goods brought in at Point Lisas, as well as have their exports taken from there.