The Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA) said it was concerned about the impact repeated interruptions at the Port of Port-of-Spain would have on the economy and the manufacturing sector in this country.
Yesterday, in a statement issued to the media, DOMA said vessels from major shipping lines remain offshore, unable to berth or discharge their cargo. DOMA warned that if the delays continue, shipping lines may bypass the PPOS and go on to others to maintain their schedules.
The statement by DOMA came after Port workers stayed away from work last week in protest of health and safety issues their union, SWWTU, raised with the Port Authority (PATT).
Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union president Michael Annisette said yesterday the workers were back on the job following discussions to address their concerns.
But DOMA warned that the issues at the Port present a challenging situation for those involved in manufacturing and trade.
“The timeliness of cargo arrival is related to many aspects of business operations, including production, re-export, sales, and finance arrangements. Purchases are made on a schedule to manage finances and coincide with manufacturing schedules, seasonal needs and re-export commitments. So crucial are Port functions that it is a most rare and mostly forbidden occurrence in other countries,” DOMA said.
DOMA said repeated disruptions have serious implications for the health and reputation of the economy.
“To meddle with that is to play with the livelihoods of tens of thousands of working people and, if not resolved quickly, to dampen further the investment climate. Whatever issues may exist to cause the action being taken needs to be resolved in the interest of the general well-being of the Trinidad and Tobago economy,” said DOMA.
Speaking to Guardian Media yesterday, Annisette, who is attending a Caribbean Congress of Labour meeting in Jamaica, assured Port workers are committed to the efficient working of the Port.
He said while the SWWTU and PATT management discussed some problems on Monday, he called for more dialogue. He even suggested Minister of Finance Colm Imbert and Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan intervene.
“We are seeing some of the issues being addressed. That shows the management is doing something. We hope these issues will not get caught up in this procurement process, which we are told might take more than a month or so,” Annisette said.
He added workers had no intention of hurting the economy.
“And let me make it clear that the intention is not to make vessels bypass Trinidad and Tobago. We really cannot do that. That is why the issue of sitting down and resolving issues must be given priority when you are operating in places that are so sensitive and have implications for commerce and the economy,” he explained.
Annisette said the SWWTU presented health and safety issues to management on Monday, such as not allocating safety boots for over three years, containers coming into the Port without lock pins and having one worker lashing containers on vessels. He said some trucks do not have proper seating, and some have exhaust leaks entering the cabin that cause nausea.
Annisette said the public and business community must understand these issues have been impacting workers for over three years. He said despite this, workers have given 110 per cent performance on the job.