SSP Diaries | Experience of clearing the ‘barrel’

It was shipped over three months ago from the Caribbean, arriving in Jamaica a week ago. The experience begins with the knowledge that one is unable to ship direct from some islands. All cargo must therefore go past Jamaica to Miami, before coming back to Jamaica. Strange, but true!

It was a relief when the brokers advised that the shipment had arrived, but I would not have known at the time, had I not made personal enquiries. I would advise that people shipping items do this, failing which, one could end up paying storage charges by the time the broker gets around to advising you that your items are here.

Newport West has never been one of my favourite places. Prior to this event, I was last there some 20 or more years ago. I headed for the brokers located on First Street. To get there was an adventure. The roads are in a deplorable condition. Nothing is straightforward, and it’s not unusual for your route to be blocked by a building, necessitating detours or advice from passers-by or the ‘streetwise contingent’ who make their living from offering parking spaces and providing transportation.

MERELY COLLECTED FEES

My broker merely collected their fees and gave me directions to the ‘clearing house’. The experience was coldly efficient. I was sent to the Total Logistics Facility, Kingston Wharves Limited. This is where things became interesting. As you arrive, the streetwise contingent virtually ambushes you and advises you of the services that they can provide. I was lucky to be ‘tackled’ by one of the more senior ones, who basically escorted me through the car park to the first set of cashier lines on the inside of the building. It is a well-appointed building, and the air-conditioning system was functioning properly, thank the Lord; outside was a furnace! The line was not unduly long, but it moved slowly. Your documents were thoroughly checked and then you paid the relevant charges. I stupidly thought that that would be the end of all payments required. On completing the first ‘station’, I was promptly sent to a second one in an adjacent room, only to join another line and go through the same vigil to pay yet another charge. I can’t understand why today all fees/charges cannot be collected at the first stop, and the distribution of funds done internally from that point.

From the second station, I was directed to the waiting room area where my documents were taken, without a proper explanation, and I was asked to take a seat and listen for my name! About an hour later I did hear my name, and I was ushered to a window and subsequently told to proceed to the Examination Room. This is a large open space with numerous tables. Your imported item, by this time, has been placed at a table and you proceed to that point. On arrival at Table 38 (T 38), I spent about five minutes before receiving instructions to open my locked barrel and place the contents on the table. Before I could get the key out, a young man appeared out of nowhere with a lock-cutter and snapped off my lock without asking any questions. I asked him about his actions, explaining that they were unnecessary, while showing him my key. I am still not sure what to make of the expression on his face, as he never uttered a word and sheepishly moved away. The staff here needs to be better briefed.

WAIT

Having opened my barrel, I had to wait for over 30 minutes for it to be inspected. There were only two Customs officers doing inspections, and this accounted for the length of time it took. For a room that large, there should have been at least 10 officers present and actively engaged. Senior citizens tire quite easily.

The physical inspection over, you are asked to proceed to yet another cashier to pay another administrative fee, and to a further point to collect a pass to collect your cleared item. Once you have that pass you fall into the hands of the streetwise contingent once again. They handled the physical collection of the barrel, and I was soon on my way home, the barrel being transported for a fee. Bearing in mind that these are really hustlers, I found their fees to be reasonable and there is room for haggling. There is room for improvement in the entire port infrastructure and the processes at the Total Logistics Facility. My experience lasted over five hours, which is a ridiculous amount of time spent collecting one item. Newport West is a major international commercial shipping facility; it should live up to the standards expected of it.

Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.