Look at the system

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Parent Category: Dec 2011

Category: Week ending Dec 17th, 2011

Published on Monday, 19 December 2011 17:14

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EDITORIAL

Every time of the year around this particular period, hundreds of Grenadians look forward to taking advantage of the offer from government to import into the country free-of-cost two barrels of mainly foodstuff to enjoy the Christmas holiday.

This was an initiative started in November/December 2008 by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as a thank you to the people of the country for voting the party into office to bring an end to 13 years of rule by the New National Party (NNP).

 It was a most welcome move by Congress in light of the severe financial and economic constraints facing many nationals due to the global downturn especially in countries like the United States and Britain where many of our people live.

 These are the people who send home barrels to their family members and loved ones from what we often refer to as the Diaspora.

 There is no need for the government to review the Christmas Barrel goodies except to look at ways to make it much easier for the beneficiaries to gain access to their barrels on the St. George's Port.

 The Grenada Ports Authority (GPA) and the Department of Customs are the two principal agents in the country charged with the responsibility of administering the "free barrel" business on behalf of the government.

 After four years, the initiative should have been refined in such a manner that the other normal and routine business taking place on the port would not be affected in any significant manner.

 The industrial impasse between GPA and the Technical and Allied Workers Union (TAWU), which represents the disgruntled port workers, exposed some of the still lingering problems with the barrel trade.

 The Agents handling Cargo in the country started to complain of the slow process in which their containers were being handled on the port.

 The information which surfaced suggested that at least 21 containers were lying on the ground on the port waiting to be “unstuffed” by the Ports Authority.

 The complaining agents were definitely under pressure from the public who wanted to get access to their barrels for Christmas.

 The time is long overdue for the Ministry of Finance to sit down with those in charge of Customs and the Port Authority and review the system used for handling barrels and other goods in general with a view to making it much easier for the beneficiaries.

 The input of the Customs Officers, Port Authority Workers in the Shed, and even Shipping Agents and Brokers should be sought because they can make an invaluable contribution in helping to improve the system.

 THE NEW TODAY is convinced that the Management of the Port Authority is out of touch with the realities of what is taking place in the Sheds and in the "yard" with the processing of goods during a busy period.

 The GPA Clerks will often complain of a computer system that is not working up to speed and cannot handle the traffic. It takes much too long for one to stand in the line and pay fees to the Port Authority.

 The new system being introduced by Customs should be welcomed by all since it might make the system move much closer to a one-shop system.

 Government also needs to look at extending the hours of operation on the port in the busy November/December period in order to accommodate the increasing traffic from persons doing business on the Port.

 The world has long moved away from the traditional 8am-4pm period and a modern state needs to move with the times.

It would be better to look at a two shift system with workers coming in at 7.00 a.m and working until 2-3 and then replaced by another set of workers taking over duties until 8.00 p.m in order to be more accommodating to persons wanting to do business on the docks.

 The government and the private sector will benefit since they will lose less hours in their normal day-to-day operations with having to give time-off to workers wanting to visit the Port to attend to personal matters.

 The Treasury should also benefit more financially since an increase in  business activities should mean more money coming into the coffers of the government.

 There is also the likelihood that more persons might be able to gain employment due to the extended hours now available to doing business on the port.

 The transportation system in the country has improved tremendously with public buses running much later at night than 10-15 years ago.

 Mr. Minister of Finance, let's hope that the above will give you some food for thought during the Christmas holiday period as nothing should always remain the same forever.

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