NATUC condemns DOMA’s criticism of port operations

The National Trade Union Centre of Trinidad and Tobago (NATUC) has strongly condemned a recent statement by the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA) criticising alleged inefficiencies and delays at the ports of Port of Spain and Point Lisas.

While DOMA focused on the impact of delays on business operations, NATUC emphasized that the human element — the challenges faced daily by port workers — must not be overlooked.

According to NATUC, workers have long contended with aging infrastructure, outdated equipment, limited investment, inter-agency coordination issues, and a shortage of functional machinery, forcing reliance on improvised methods.

The union also highlighted the unimplemented 2014–2017 Memorandum of Agreement between the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (PATT) and the Seamen and Waterfront Workers’ Trade Union (SWWTU), which was intended to modernize port operations.

NATUC criticized the Rowley-led government for abandoning the agreement for political reasons, saying the decision has had lasting negative consequences for both port efficiency and national trade.

“NATUC demands that DOMA present credible, data-driven evidence to support their claims,” the union said, calling for comparative analyses with regional and international ports. “Without empirical evidence, their statements are disingenuous, subjective, and counterproductive.”

The union stressed that port efficiency should not be measured solely by container movement, but also by how the nation values the people who maintain its trade infrastructure. NATUC, along with SWWTU and port workers, expressed willingness to engage in a collaborative process to create a modern, safe, and efficient port system that benefits workers, businesses, and the economy.