The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Abaco’s Chamber of Commerce president yesterday called for better organisation at the island’s shipping port, adding that “mix-ups” rather than “higher levels of theft” are responsible for goods losses.

Ken Hutton, speaking to Tribune Business about the security concerns raised by major building suppliers, said: “I think goods are still going missing here, but I don’t think that has to do with security. I think it primarily has to do now with the fact that we need a better organisational structure in place there. I think it’s just mix-ups. I don’t think there is any higher level of thefts here any more.”

Explaining what he meant by his call for a better organisational structure, Mr Hutton said: “Well, normally in a port like APD (Arawak Port Development) there is a very set procedure for stuff coming in and going out of the port area.

“We don’t have that type of infrastructure in place right now. They are doing the best they can with what’s there. But, again, we need a full-blown port structure to be reinstituted or reinstalled at the port of Marsh Harbour.”

As for the “mix-ups”, Mr Hutton added: “I can only speak from personal experience, where things are being released to the wrong people or people are picking up the wrong thing and getting out of the gate. Again, the procedures for exiting from the gate or the out-gating of goods are not what it should be yet, primarily because we don’t have the physical infrastructure to put those things in place.”

Asked whether the government is addressing the issue, Mr Hutton said: “I am not aware of anything that is being done specifically, and I haven’t been told anything yet. I speak only on behalf of the chamber. I am not saying that nothing is happening, I am just saying that I have not been made aware of anything happening yet.”