Hauliers halt operations for yet another day

Senior Reporter

otto.carrington@guardian.co.tt

Before an injunction was granted by the Industrial Court, the Association of Trinidad and Tobago Hauliers (ATTH) had suspended their services at the Port of Port-of-Spain for yet another day.

The hauliers have been facing challenges in moving shipping containers from the port due to industrial action by the workers. Speaking to Guardian Media, president of the ATTH Reza Ali said the industrial action has affected their business, leaving them with no choice but to stay away until operations are normalised.

“We are suffering under these dire circumstances. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to serve our clients and the nation and deliver cargo. This isn’t just about imports; it’s about improving the country’s overall productivity. Frequent industrial actions over the past six weeks have significantly impacted the imports and exports of this nation,” Ali said.

The prolonged unrest significantly disrupted productivity, prompting the business sector to express growing concerns about its far-reaching impact on trade and overall economic stability.

ATTH vice president Apollo Arjoon said the association was fast approaching its breaking point.

“The situation has become unbearable, with many stating that six weeks of disruption is too long, and it is affecting everyone across the board. We are here for the interests of our membership, but everything has a breaking point. I think we are close to that, and action needs to be taken,” he said.

Despite not bringing their trucks to the port, Arjoon noted that they are still handling operations such as returning empty containers and those earmarked for export.

“We will address every concern and act in the best interest of our consignees. All factors have been considered, and we cannot hold our consignees hostage. They are already impacted by the costs they are paying. The port has not opened to handle any imports or exports. What you see in the background may be containers that have been on demurrage.

“In the interest of our customers, we will return critical containers. However, we are taking a stand and stating that we cannot continue to operate under these conditions,” he added.

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