PORT UPGRADE A PLUS

The planned $240 million upgrade of the Port-of-Port of Spain, and with it the acquisition of additional modern cargo handling equipment, should see speedier cargo handling operations, a faster turnaround of vessels, the attracting of greater trans-shipment business to Port-of-Spain as well as giving the country’s exports a more competitive edge. Meanwhile, the Board of the Port Authority, even as it signals the value of acquiring modern equipment as one of the steps needed for the attracting of new business to the port, is moving with despatch to deal with such troublesome issues as a not wholly efficient management structure and low productivity. There is the inference that had these negatives been dealt with effectively, the port would have enjoyed a growth rate in trans-shipment business even higher than the 29 per cent it has declared.

Port Authority chairman, Noel Garcia, advised however last Thursday that the Authority would be embarking on a joint initiative with the representative trade union, the Seamen and Waterfront Workers’ Trade Union (SWWTU), to treat with the question of low productivity, including system deficiencies. A factor which will be of importance in arriving at a needed solution to the question of low worker productivity is that the President General of the SWWTU, Michael Annisette, is a member of the Board. Mr Annisette will come to the discussion table apprised of both sides of the productivity picture. Low productivity at the port, however, is not simply a worker problem but should be seen as a management problem as well, and if not addressed quickly and adequately by the Board and management will continue to deteriorate to the detriment of the port and the nation itself. It is the productivity of workers and the style of management at the port, and not simply the acquisition of new equipment, that will determine how many containers (TEUs) will be handled annually, as well as the total tonnage, excluding of course bulk cargo.

The Port-of-Spain port is in competition with Barbados and Venezuela for trans-shipment cargo. Trinidad and Tobago must avoid a situation where cargo bound for Port-of-Spain is diverted to these two countries because freighter operators prefer not to have their vessels tied up here waiting to offload, thus incurring needless costs. Any diverting of the freighters and subsequent trans-shipping of the cargo sends up the final landed costs in Trinidad and Tobago. The converse also is true. Should freighters calling here to take on Trinidad and Tobago produced goods be delayed for whatever the reason, this sends up the shippping costs of the goods, making the products less competitive on the domestic and international markets. Newsday welcomes both the planned $240 million upgrade of the City’s port and the determination of the Port Authority to deal with the question of productivity at the port in a realistic manner. The Authority has recognised that the mere acquisition of additional modern equipment would not be enough, but must be accompanied by a tackling of worker and management efficiency as well.