Leonardo Blair, Staff Reporter THE IMBROGLIO over cargo ships being diverted from local ports in recent weeks due to a serious backlog is now almost completely settled after a majority of the diverted cargo was returned to Jamaica on Christmas Eve.
Karen Clarke-Rigg, client services manager at APM Terminals (Jamaica) Ltd., explained yesterday that working from a list submitted by the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association (JMA), they have located and returned most of the diverted cargo.
"We had vessels coming in on the 20th, 21st and the 24th," said Mrs. Clarke-Rigg. She explained that all outstanding cargo will arrive on vessels coming in today and on January 4.
She pointed out that the manufacturers who have been making enquiries about their cargo have also made speedy pick-ups of their goods.
FEROCIOUS DEBATE
Less than two weeks ago, amid a ferocious debate over who was responsible for
ships being diverted from Kingston's
port with goods of several merchants and manufacturers, Noel Hylton, president of the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) and Gleaner 'Man of the Year 2003', stepped in with an offer to help locate the diverted cargo.
During the controversy, Doreen Frankson, president of the JMA, threatened to resign after she was accused on national radio of being mischievous when she pointed out that the ports were having problems. The problems, she said, were causing manufacturers to lose business, and some had been temporarily put out of operation.
Various initiatives were undertaken by the port authority to alleviate the situation. These include extending the opening hours and operating on Saturdays and Sundays. Previously, the ports were closed for delivery on Saturday and the container yard was normally closed on Sundays.
