“We are running out of space” Port Police Chief
The Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) is urging citizens to clear their vehicles from the port.
With several items coming in every week, SLASPA says it is running out of space.
“We would really like those persons who have imported vehicles to come in as quickly as they can to clear those vehicles off the port,” Chief of Port Police, Kennedy Francis said this week.
According to Francis, at the end of November “We had about 450 imported cars. We subsequently received 95 cars the following weekend and then the week thereafter another 100 and something. We’re expecting 150 cars this weekend.”
“We’re doing all that we can possibly do as a port authority to accommodate our customers,” he noted.
But SLASPA (and the Customs Excise Department) cannot do it alone, he said.
“We need the help of the public (and) the commercial sector. Our aim is … to ensure that persons get their cargo before Christmas but the only way we can do it is if persons come,” he stated.
Director of Seaports, Adrian Hilaire, said: “It hasn’t been like that in a long time where we have vessels coming back to back.”
“What we have done is to commission a new shed,” he noted.
An appointment system is now available on SLASPA’s website: www.slaspa.com.
“As long as they receive their documents from the NVOCC they should proceed to our appointment system. We also have the WhatsApp platform (285-1091) where we provide support to persons who may have any questions,” stated Samara Gabriel-Howell, Coordinator of Compliance and Monitoring at SLASPA.