By Adrian Frater, News EditorWESTERN BUREAU:
ANGER, FRUSTRATION and anxiety reigned at the Montego Bay Freeport Wharf in St. James yesterday as thousands of people converged on the shipping facility in a determined last minute bid to collect barrels, shipped from overseas before Christmas.
"I am angry because I have been here from 7:00 a.m. and it is now after mid-day and I am no nearer to getting my things cleared," said St. Elizabeth resident, Suzette Smith, who was among the large crowd standing at the gate to the wharf.
"Those who live near collect all the early tickets so we from the country parts are always the last to get through," she complained.
Despite instituting contingency plans such as extending the closing hours at the wharf from 8:00 p.m. to as late as midnight and bringing in additional police personnel to keep order, Tony Bowen, the manager of the port, said the situation was overwhelming as they struggle to cope with the high volume of goods they have to handle.
"It is a miracle that we are getting through so much at such a brisk pace," said Mr. Bowen, who was full of praise for the work of both the Customs department and the police.
He admitted, however, that: "Although we have extended the hours we are still being overwhelmed by the amount of goods we have to handle."
For Marlon Smith, who only got on to the wharf compound after waiting for four frustrating hours at the gate, the operation at the wharf is "old and outdated" and should be modernised to ensure greater efficiency in the delivery of service.
"This manual moving of barrels belongs to the 1930s not 2003," Mr. Smith stated. "They need to have modern conveyor belts like at the airport to speed up the process of stripping and clearing goods," he continued. Also, he thinks there should be six windows with attendants checking invoices instead of just one.
DESPITE THE ASSISTANCE
Despite the assistance from the police, the private security guards at the gate, who are required to check all persons and vehicles entering and leaving the compound, still feel pressured by the demanding customers, especially those who try to ignore the ticketing system instituted to maintain order.
"This is a big headache for us because some people don't want to co-operate," said security guard Bryan Martin, who has to face the heat of the sun as well as the sometimes hostile crowd. "Things could be better but everybody wants to get through at the same time," he told The Gleaner.
Said Bryan: "I think persons planning to ship barrels should consider shipping them earlier, maybe two months in advance. That way their things will get here earlier and reduce the frustration that you are seeing out here today."
