“We cannot afford supply-chain paralysis ahead of holiday season” – GCCI

– calls for targeted action to address Trinidad port delays

The local private sector continues to bemoan the shipping delays from Trinidad and Tobago as a result of port congestion, with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) warning of a possible supply-chain paralysis ahead of the upcoming Christmas holiday. In a recent statement over the weekend, the Chamber expressed deep concerns by the continued recurrences of shipping delays from the shopping port in Trinidad’s capital of Port of Spain. Back in August, the Port of Port of Spain, the Twin Island Republic’s main port facility, was listed by shipping lines as the slowest port in the entire Caribbean. This, according to reports coming out of Trinidad, was due to the inefficiency of cargo and customs operations that have seen a backlog of vessels outside the port for as long as two weeks, far beyond their scheduled docking dates. According to the GCCI, however, this port congestion is an issue which has, over the years resulted, in impediments to regional trade and hindrances to local supply chains.

“Members of the GCCI—particularly those within the manufacturing, trade, retail and construction sectors—have reported delays in receiving shipments of raw materials, as well as increased demurrage and storage costs, and disruptions to production and project timelines. This situation has not only disrupted operations but placed undue pressure on cashflow,” the Chamber noted in its missive.
The GCCI went on to call on both Guyanese and Trinidadian authorities, as well as the port operators, to address this issue immediately through strategic coordination. It underscored the critical need to prioritise essential cargo and restore efficient shipping operations. In fact, the Georgetown Chamber recommended the facilitation of alternative routing and expedited clearance to cushion the impact on the local business landscape and stands ready to work with regional partners and the private sector to implement practical remedial solutions.
“These actions are necessary as we reflect on the dire implications of such delays last December that resulted in supply chain disruptions and increased costs for consumers. We cannot afford a supply-chain paralysis ahead of the holiday season—swift action will limit economic harm to the business community and consumers,” the GCCI declared. Furthermore, it pointed out that there is a pressing need for the authorities in Trinidad to review the procedures and operations of their port facilities to ensure surety of regional trade and end repeated disruptions.
“Trade and stability cannot be held hostage by inefficiency,” the Georgetown Chamber contended. Similar sentiments were recently expressed by the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) in a statement last week, which stated that the ongoing port congestion and shipping delays in Trinidad have caused disruptions to both large and small businesses here. According to the GMSA, these challenges at the Port of Port of Spain have disrupted supply chains and created delays in the importation of key raw materials. It noted that for many local manufacturers and traders, these delays translate into higher costs, production slowdowns, and loss of revenues. GMSA President, Rafeek Khan, explained that both large and small manufacturers are being affected by the shipping delays, which have persisted for several months now and are causing a ripple effect in the costs of operations locally.
“We are having issues with manufacturing inputs because raw materials are being held up in Trinidad, affecting manufacturing for almost every scale of operations. It doesn’t matter whether you’re making pepper sauce, beverages, or butter; we have to import certain ingredients for the manufacturing process. And companies, as you can imagine, when they run out of their raw material, have to stop their factories … So, we’re trying to find out what’s causing this [delay],” he noted.
Some authorities in Trinidad have cited issues such as massive congestion at the port, with many empty containers there; priority being given to other regional destinations over Guyana that are more lucrative; and the increase of larger vessels carrying larger volumes of cargo as possible reasons behind the hold on Guyana’s shipments. Moreover, the GMSA, in Thursday’s missive, also highlighted the impact this situation could have on local operations during the upcoming holiday season.
“The uninterrupted flow of goods is critical to ensuring product availability, price stability, and business continuity across multiple sectors. Strong, reliable regional logistics remain essential to the success of Guyana’s growing manufacturing sector and to enabling our manufacturers to be competitive. The GMSA, therefore, calls for a timely and coordinated resolution to the situation and reaffirms its commitment to national development,” it posited.
To this end, Khan indicated that they are looking to engage the Trinidadian Port Authorities as well as the Trinidadian Government to resolve the issue.