Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
Industrial action by workers slowed activity at Berth 11 at Kingston Wharves in downtown Kingston, yesterday. The workers protested against the implementation of new parking arrangements. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
IMPORTERS DOING business at the Kingston Wharves have said that yesterday's protest action by staff members at Berth 11 at the Kingston Wharves will have a negative financial impact on their businesses.
Operations recommenced late yesterday following protest action by staff members who walked off the job against the implementation of new parking arrangements.
STANDSTILL AT BERTH
The protest caused a standstill at Berth 11 with several importers unable to get their containers.
Richard Minott, president of the Customs Brokers Association, said that yesterday's protest would be costing importers.
"It has delayed the clearances, in fact, the clearances coming from the long weekend. So, importers will have to pay all that charges leading up to this morning," he said.
Andrew Henry, president of the Port Trailer Haulage Association. said that yesterday's delay at the port affected his business significantly. He said that the protest started as early as 8:00 a.m. and he was unable to remove any containers.
"It must affect the importing public and, ultimately, the consumers. It has put us back," he said.
Wilma Johnson, customer client manager at APM Terminals, told The Gleaner that the customs officers were unhappy with new parking arrangements that became effective yesterday.
Ms. Johnson said under the new arrangement, all the custom officers are being asked to park in a designated area. She said specific parking spots have been allotted to 12 senior customs officers.
She was unable to say how many custom officers assigned to the terminal would be affected by the new arrangement.
However, she said, there are 300 additional parking spaces that the officers can use.
She said that the management was meeting with workers to try and resolve the matter.
