The five employees of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Port Authority – SVGPA who were dismissed over their unauthorized movement of items from the port might have been misled.
According to information reaching ANN, the workers, on March 5, were asked to move a pallet which was to be transported to Port Kingstown for public auction since they were at Port Campden Park for more than two years, unclaimed.
Some of the items in the pallet included Microwaves, chainsaws, air fryers, pot sets, and the like.
On March 5, 2024, the workers were asked to remove the items from the pallet and say that they were told by a supervisor that since the items were for auction they could take anything they liked.
So, on that advice, they proceeded to take the items they wanted and transported them off of the compound of the Campden Park Container Port.
Though the items were being organised for the Customs Department to be auctioned in Kingstown, they were still under the custody of the Port Authority and subjected to the port’s rules.
Since the items were removed from the port at Campden Park without following the correct channels, the Port Authority investigated the matter and on Friday, based on evidence, dismissed the workers who were involved in removing the items.
Some of the workers have threatened to take the Port to court over their handling of the issue.
ANN tried to reach the Port Manager for comments, but efforts have been futile with the Port Manager saying he will not divulge port matters to the media.