Calls are being made for the new Government, led by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, to investigate corruption and inefficiency at the Point Lisas Industrial Development Company (Plipdeco) warehouse. The call came as hundreds of customers were turned away from the warehouse yesterday after being told only 65 customers will be serviced a day.
Many of them arrived at the Plipdeco Less than Container Load (LCL) warehouse before dawn, hoping to collect their goods. However, security officers informed them if their names were not on the list, it was best that they went back home. Ramjit Rampersad, who came at the facility at 5.15 am, said he got number 26. However, even up to 11 am, his goods had not been cleared.
“I am still waiting and it is a long process. I don’t know why they are moving so slow. If I had reached here after 7 am, I would not have gotten through. This morning we had about 190 people waiting,” Rampersad said. A port worker, who requested anonymity, said his colleagues were deliberately frustrating the process so they could get bribes from the public.
“If people frustrated they will be more inclined to pay a little bribe to get their goods instead of waiting for days for it to be cleared,” the worker said. Ancil Pierre who was also waiting at the port since 5.30 am said Customs workers should do better than make the public suffer.
“They need to extend the hours. People are taking time off from their jobs to come here. If they are closing at 4 pm, why is it they telling people that they cannot clear their barrels if they come here after 9 am?” Pierre questioned. Saying he was disappointed with the delays, Pierre added it was unfair for people to have to spend two days waiting by the port to clear their goods.
Russel Rudder, who was waiting for his sister to clear goods, said he hoped the new Government would fix the problems at the warehouse. “This has to be more efficient. They need to speed up this process. I am coming from Tunapuna and it should not be taking so long to do one transaction,” he noted.
Mandy Powell of Point Fortin who came to the warehouse to collect goods for a church said she took a day off from work but could not get her business done. “I am hoping that I will get through today. The office at T&T Express opens at 8 am and the Customs officer comes here from 8 am, yet they telling us if we come here after 9 am, they cannot do the transaction,” Powell said.
LCL’s warehouse manager Clint Duncan was not available for comment yesterday. An official from his office took a message and said he would return the call. Plipdeco’s supervisor of corporate communications, Gizelle Crooks, was not in office. Shelly Balkissoon, Plipdeco’s manager, marketing and business, advised that an email be sent on the issue. She said a response would have to be cleared by Plipdeco’s management before being issued.
what is LCL warehouse?
LCL warehouse is a Customs-bonded facility which is located 1.3 km from the port of Point Lisas. The office working hours and yard operations are from 7 am to 3 pm, Monday to Friday with a half hour staggered lunch break between 11 am to 12 noon. The cashier’s office closes at 2.30 pm. (www.plipdeco.com/main/?page=other-management-contacts)
plipdeco responds
Contacted yesterday, the company’s manager of Marketing & Business, Shelly Balkissoon, said there were no delays in clearing barrels at LCL warehouse.
“Today there was an unusually high number of customers. Normally we facilitate an average of approximately 120 to 130 customers per day and this volume is determined by the Customs and Excise Division. This is based on the duration of the screening and examination process which varies based on the type of cargo and as such, the average number can vary and may even be in excess of 130 customers per day,” Balkissoon said.
Asked why 65 to 70 customers were being serviced per day, Balkissoon responded: “This is determined by Customs and Excise. However, within recent weeks, we have successfully facilitated all of our customers.” Denying that workers were on a work to rule, Balkissoon said: “We control the volume of customers at the facility between the hours of 7 am to 3 pm.
“Again, this will vary based on the examination process and the type and quantity of cargo per consignee,” she added, Traditionally, Balkissoon explained that arrangements are made to facilitate the increase in volumes which is normally experienced between the months of October to February.
“We are monitoring the increase to determine if measures should be implemented ahead of this year’s peak season.” With regard to allegations of corruption, Balkissoon said: “We have no information or evidence to support the claim of attempts by Customs officers to obtain bribes. In fact, such allegations can potentially be considered defamatory to the corporation.”