00:00Some businesspersons told the TV6 News
00:05when cargo arrives in Port of Spain to be forwarded to Tobago, there's a document called a PTR form that needs to accompany the cargo.
00:13This gives Swissport authority to move goods from the Caribbean Airlines bond in Piaco to the Caribbean Airlines bond at Crumpoint in Tobago.
00:24The forwarding of the cargo would most times be done the next day or at least on the next available flight to Tobago.
00:33However, since a new system was instituted, the procedure has been altered.
00:38Now the PTR form needs to be sent to the customs officers in Tobago to be stamped and signed without the cargo, then returned to Trinidad via jetpack.
00:49Only when the form is received back in Trinidad would the cargo be released from the bond to be booked on a flight to Tobago.
00:57The issue with this is there is no set timeline for the process and it can take weeks based on how fast the officers work on it.
01:08In addition, Tobago business owners can only clear goods on two days in Tobago for two hours, Tuesday and Friday 8am to 10am by Caribbean Airlines cargo
01:20because those are the only days the customs officers are scheduled to deal with those matters.
01:26This was confirmed by customs in Trinidad.
01:29One business owner told the TV6 News quote cargo arrived for my store on January 30th in Port of Spain.
01:36On February 3rd, I was told the PTR form was in Tobago to be stamped and signed.
01:42Still, only after a million calls between last Saturday and this week was the form sent back to Trinidad for the goods to be released from the bond.
01:53I have thousands of dollars worth of goods I purchased for Valentine's Day, which is on Friday, and I'm not able to get my goods before time, end quote.
02:03The businessman claimed he contacted a customs officer who said they would try to request an extra shift to get the goods to Tobago.
02:12However, that request was denied.
02:15Some business owners are now contemplating closing up shop as the situation is a constant battle to have goods shipped to Tobago in a timely manner.
02:25While in Trinidad, businesses are facilitated with almost a daily clearing of goods.
02:31TV6 contacted the Minister of Finance, Col. Imbert, via text on the matter.
02:36We also contacted Head of Corporate Communications of Caribbean Airlines, Dion Legault, via phone, text and email for a comment on the matter and are awaiting responses.
02:48Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
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