00:00During the public hearing of the Parliament's Joint Select Committee appointed to inquire into and report to Parliament on local
00:07authorities, service commissions and statutory authorities, including the Tobago House of Assembly, the committee's chairman and independent senator, Candace Jones
00:17-Simmons, sought clarification about an issue concerning the inter-island Seabridge.
00:22You stated that the Shipping Association assisted the Supermarkets Association with respect to the issues on the Seabridge in February.
00:33What specific operational accommodation or contingency measures were agreed upon and were they implemented as promised?
00:43There was no mention of the MV Blue Harmony cargo vessel, which the government had said was not the cause
00:50of any shortage of goods in Tobago.
00:52Shipping Association President of Trinidad and Tobago, Troy Passad, responded to the JSC chairman's question.
00:59Approximately one month ago, I would have received a call from a representative from the Supermarkets Association, I believe it
01:07was the general manager or CEO, and they were seeking advocacy or assistance, facilitation, knowing that, well, the Port Authority
01:22of Trinidad and Tobago is a member of our association.
01:25So they needed some assistance because obviously there was delays in getting the trucks on board and across to Tobago.
01:34Mr. Passad then explained what the Shipping Association did to assist the Supermarkets Association.
01:39And their members in Tobago and their members in Tobago were having issues with regards to inventory.
01:45So what we did in line with our approach of advocacy and assisting our friends and the other associations is
01:58that we, you know, picked up the phone,
02:00we contacted our port management representatives and asked that they assist in whatever way to assist with regards to getting
02:13the necessary contingencies in place to get the goods across to the sister aisle.
02:20The government has said there was no backlog of cargo at the port of Port of Spain or the port
02:25of Scarborough.
02:27Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
02:31Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
02:31Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
02:31Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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