Minister for Infrastructure and Ports Stephenson King has announced that the government is implementing immediate and long-term measures to effectively address the ongoing issues between local truckers and the Saint Lucia Air and Seaports Authority (SLASPA).
The government is implementing quick solutions, including the transfer of at least 100 vehicles to the southern Vieux Fort ports. The long term, plans are for the possibility of a modernised berthing port zone to be constructed at Cul De Sac to significantly alleviate congestion at the ports.
The urgency of this matter became clear after truckers protested delays and operational difficulties at the ports, escalating into actions where they blocked access to Castries by positioning their trucks on the road adjacent to the docks.
This critical situation needed government intervention, which lead to the authorities to issue a strong directive for SLASPA to rectify the issues on hand. Minister King characterised this issue as part of “busy port operations” that have intensified over the past two to three years, citing statistics that reflect the growing influx of container cargo at the Castries port.
“Shipping lines have not effectively removed empty containers from the docks, leading to containers stacked four to five high at Port Castries,” he noted.
In addition, the influx of imported vehicles has compounded the problem. In February alone, importers faced delays in receiving their orders, resulting in a backlog of deliveries.
Last week, over 400 motor vehicles arrived at the ports, which required urgent logistical management to ensure timely release to dealers. Due to the congestion, ports personnel had to make critical adjustments to accommodate incoming vehicles and enable dealers to receive their inventory on time.
The minister highlighted that while accommodations were made for a larger carrier to handle these vehicles, used car dealers faced challenges due to lack of bonded storage space at the ports.
To address the stalemate, SLASPA has put mechanisms in place aimed at managing truck entry into the port, effectively slowing down access to prevent further congestion.
However, this has led to truckers being ticketed for parking on the roadside, resulting in more operational frustrations.
Acknowledging these “operational challenges,” the minister stated that the issues with SLASPA have developed over an extended period, prompting the necessary actions taken by truckers.
Progress has been made, with SLASPA engaging with truckers to facilitate better operations.
Alternatives are being explored, including moving some vehicles to Vieux Fort and establishing a designated “trucking layby” to streamline operations and allow truckers to wait for their cargo pickups in an organized manner.
Minister King emphasizes that urgent action is essential. He stated, “We are working within a 10-acre lot for SLASPA operations; however, the increasing demand and inefficiencies in container removal have diminished its effectiveness.”
In light of these challenges, the minister confirmed that efforts are underway to develop an alternative port.
The previous administration had identified the Cul De Sac area for a dock, but cost issues impeded progress. This government is now conducting a comprehensive consultancy, sponsored by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), to establish Cul De Sac as a fully operational port capable of complementing Port Castries and serving commercial and potential transshipment needs.
The initiative will assess the port’s capacity to handle large volumes of cargo ships and may include necessary dredging to ensure accessibility and operational effectiveness.
Looking ahead, the government is committed to transforming the port landscape to better serve the needs of Saint Lucia.