Hardware stores across the country are reporting that the cement shortage has worsened as the Trinidad Cement Ltd 90-day strike enters into its fifth week. The problem has been compounded by increased transportation costs, fear of violence from the picket lines and inconsistent supplies from TCL. Eusebius Yee Kin, owner of Yee Kin Hardware, Arima, complained that his supplies have got "progressively worse" over the past few weeks. "I have gotten no cement this week. Last week I got eight pallets of cement, which was 25 per cent of my needs, and the week before last, I got 16 pallets, which was half of my needs. Each week is getting worse. TCL did call and say by Monday, they are expecting a next shipment," he said. He said the situation is affecting the entire country. "The housing industry and homeowners are being affected by the cement shortage, the entire construction industry. I am surprised that the Prime Minister has not moved and taken action as yet," he said.
A spokesperson for Budget Hardware in Point Fortin said the company got 140 bags from TCL's factory on Tuesday. "This is the first load I got in a few weeks. Prior to that, I got the previous load from Chaguaramas. Apparently, the factory has started back production, but it is slow," he said. Despite this, he said cement prices will remain high because transportation and other costs have increased. "Thank God I have my own truck, but for others who pay for transportation, the cost adds up to as much as $10 on every bag that is transported. But now I hear they bust someone's tyre there, I afraid to use my own truck and will have to pay for transportation. This is more expense for me," he said. He said there have been percentage increases all around. "Before the strike, we paid $41.63 per bag from the factory; now we pay $57.50 and this is a 38 per cent increase. I used to retail a bag of cement for $52 a bag, now I sell it at $70 and this is a 35 per cent increase. TCL is selling the imported cement and locally produced cement at the same price. This is not easy," he said.
Transport costs go up
He said TCL has justified their prices by saying that there is a $13 surcharge for freight and handling cost on each bag of cement it imports. He is not sure when he will receive his next order. "They told me that they have a shipload of cement coming on Sunday. But what do I tell me customers? I have a contractor with a crew of 16 workers on a project, so I have to wait until Monday to tell this contractor that he may or may not get cement. Nothing is sure again," he said. One hardware owner from central Trinidad said he received his last load of cement last Thursday.
"We received eight pallets last week. This is about 280 bags, but these were already pre-ordered, so as soon as we got it, it was sent to the customers. Before the strike, we sold 24 pallets a week," he said. Before he sold at cement at $50, now he retails a bag of cement at $70. "The cost have gone up. I had to pay a truck to get my cement at Chaguaramas. Before when I got cement at the factory, I paid $400, now I pay $600 because of the distance. The costs have increased," he said. He said the cement shortage is affecting his customers and other associated products. "Cement is the foundation for everything, so we are seeing that blocks and other products used in construction not selling as well," he said.
