By Sue-Ann Wayow
FOUR weeks ago, a businessman had an appointment to collect cut and packaged flowers at the Piarco International Airport at 11 am. He did not leave until 5.30 pm and not without paying $2,500 in overtime costs.
He left the airport with his goods utterly frustrated for having to wait almost an entire day and pay extra for his items.
He told AZPNews.com that recently, the new digital system that was in place for the past three years at the cargo section of the airport for the collection of goods, was causing problems along with staff management at the plant quarantine section.
He is asking that in the event that the system fails for whatever reason, that the manual system be implemented so that persons can receive their goods in a timely manner without losing thousands of dollars in the process.
The businessman who imports flowers from Colombia said, “I am having a lot of problems with plant quarantine. We are asked to make appointments 24 hours in advance to clear our perishable goods. Yet still we have to sit here for hours and still wait for them to come and examine the cargo.”
The Plant Quarantine Service managed by the Ministry of Agriculture prevents the entry of pest into Trinidad and Tobago. It protects Trinidad and Tobago’s borders from the invasion of pests and diseases by the issuing of import permits, inspection of import/export cargo and baggage at ports of entry, seizures of import/export cargo and baggage and the execution of post-entry inspections.
The businessman said he was told that his goods were not being seen on the digital system and as a result, it is taking much longer for him to receive them.
“I am really fed up and frustrated with all this nonsense going on. Every time you ask them about doing a manual release, it is always that I need to talk to my supervisor and there is no manual system. So if current goes for a week, no one can’t get any goods,” he said.
The Port-of-Spain businessman explained that the problem was not with the Customs and Excise Division as Customs was prepared to release the goods as soon as possible once the necessary payments were made and documents received. The main problem was with the plant quarantine section.
“The information does not always show up on the plant quarantine system. And because of this, we cannot get our goods. What we are asking is that if the system is not working of there are glitches, if the manual system can be used. We would already have our documents in hand from Customs. It is the same documents that will show up on the plant quarantine system. When they have us waiting for hours, our goods are perishable. They die with the heat.”
When his goods are in the examination area and he has to wait, he is preventing other people from getting their goods, therefore, creating a backlog he said.
He also claimed that the individual in charge was signing the import permit before examining the goods.
Previously, there would have been a shift at the airport working during weekends.
“All we had to do then was just make a call and we would get sorted out no matter what day it was,” he said.
He said another issue was that workers did not want to work after 4 pm which was an inconvenience since sometimes cargo arrived after.
“I have even applied for a permit since in January and up till now I haven’t gotten it and they say within seven days we should have the permit in our hands,” he said.
The frustrated businessman said pre-action protocol letters will be issued if the problem was not solved in a timely manner.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries have been informed of the situation and has promised to get back to AZPNews.com.
