No Goods In or Out: Strike at Port of Belize Continues

Operations at the Port of Belize remain at a standstill. The stevedores continue their industrial action and say it will continue until the company yields to their demand for sugar compensation. While the Port and the stevedores clash, it is the consumers who stand to be most affected with this interruption to the supply chain. News Five’s Paul Lopez was at the port this morning.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Allison Craig

Allison Craig, Stevedore, Port of Belize Limited

“This is our last stand here, if we don’t stand here today that means we all going to be in trouble.”

Stevedores like Allison Craig have been on strike since Thursday of last week, bringing operations at the Port of Belize to a complete halt.

Allison Craig, Stevedore, Port of Belize Limited

“At this time, we supposed to be, we have about four ships this week. The reason is, as you see, we in this situation here. Eena my mind, I think it is the right thing to do, because like I explained to you earlier, the end wah be real bad, because now deh wah have you how they want and you wah have to yield to whatever they say and do whatever they say.”

This morning, C.E.O. at the Port of Belize, Andy Lane informed News Five that at least three ships have either bypassed the port or taken alternate routes since Wednesday.  On Friday, C.E.O. Lane explained the far reaching effects of the delay.

Andy Lane

Andy Lane, C.E.O., Port of Belize Limited

“I have a number of messages hitting my mailbox from exporters concern that their products will not be shipped as expected, which means that they will be delayed to their destination, and that would cause problems overseas, and that will cause importers overseas to question, do we really want to import Belizeans products which are volatile in terms of getting here? In terms of getting supplies, groceries, essentials on the stores of the Supermarkets, the Port is shut down, nothing can get into the country, and how much stock and inventory do these people carry? How long will it be before supplies start running out?”

As for Stevedore Craig, he and his colleagues are prepared for the long haul.

Allison Craig, Stevedore, Port of Belize Limited

“As long as it takes, as long as it takes, remember this is our last stand. It doesn’t matter what it takes, or how long it takes, all the way.”

In the meantime, the C.E.O. is apologizing to those expecting containers of stock for the local market or those intending to fill them with their product and send them to international markets.

Andy Lane, C.E.O., Port of Belize, Limited

“I am very, very sorry for the inconvenience that our ship overstoring customers and the agents are experiencing here. It is very unfortunate and very regrettable.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez