Skip to playerSkip to main content
CCNTV6
  • 18 hours ago
Even as Jearlean John, Minister of Works and Infrastructure, on Monday confirmed that there is no backlog of cargo at the Port of Port of Spain or at the Port of Scarborough, Tobago local businessmen and women have described the visit by the Minister as smoke screens and mirrors after the fact. Businesswoman Diane Hadad has described the release by the Ministry as lies and insisted the truth must be told in the matter. More from Elizabeth Williams.
Transcript
00:00Let me start by saying that cargo is not allowed to remain on the port.
00:06So that is a non-question and a non-statement.
00:10That has a zero effect either way.
00:13We are not allowed to leave cargo on the port.
00:18So they can never have a backup of cargo on the port, right?
00:23That is point number one.
00:24Ms. Haddad said the turnaround of the MV Blue Wave Harmony leaving the port of Spain port to journey to
00:31Tobago
00:31stands the risk of goods being on the vessel for a very long time unnecessarily and being compromised.
00:39So because the system is more or less roll-on, roll-on,
00:45it's either we load trucks and we're ready to drive on and drive off.
00:50But the uncertainty of the boat sailing and the time is where the big issue is.
00:58And the boat is being loaded in the morning and not leaving until 10 o'clock in the night.
01:05So we load as if we are leaving at 2 p.m., but this boat never physically departs until 10
01:13p.m.
01:14Therefore it gets into Tobago the following day.
01:16Haddad said goods have been significantly compromised in the past, with many items having to be discarded.
01:25I would like the companies who had to throw away chicken, who had to send back chocolates to Trinidad,
01:33who was worried about butter and frozen strawberries and blueberries and biscuits that carry cheese paste in it.
01:42And so, I would like to know why we have such silence.
01:48She said she remains disappointed Chief Secretary Farley-Augustin is not in Tobago to know the truth from truckers and
01:56those who use the Seabridge.
01:58Chief Secretary Farley-Augustin is at the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting at the invitation of Prime Minister Kamala Pissar
02:05-Bissasa.
02:06I don't know that it matters to Mr. Augustin whether he is there or not there in light of this
02:13or not this,
02:13because I think flying around and dressing up in suits and so is more important for our politicians and leaders
02:22than really dealing with the substance of our country's needs.
02:26Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
02:28.
02:29.
02:29.
02:29.
02:29.
02:29.
02:29.
02:29.
02:30.
Comments