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Consultants helping to improve efficiency at Port Purcell- Premier Smith

- said residents will see improvements soon
Residents will see improvements at Port Purcell very soon, according to Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith (AL). Photo: VINO/File
Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), Premier and Minister of Finance, has stated that specialised consultants have been employed to develop a plan to improve the cargo operations at Port Purcell. Photo: VINO
Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), Premier and Minister of Finance, has stated that specialised consultants have been employed to develop a plan to improve the cargo operations at Port Purcell. Photo: VINO
WICKHAM'S CAY I, Tortola, VI- Since the hurricanes of September 2017, businesses and residents have been experiencing lengthy delays in receiving shipments at the cargo dock at Port Purcell, Tortola.

Due to the pile up of containers on the port, which has intensified as persons try to take advantage of the duty free period, individuals sometimes have to wait weeks before they can clear their goods.

During a press conference with media houses on Thursday, February 8, 2018 at the Premier' Office in Central Administration Complex, Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) disclosed that residents and businesses will see improvements in clearing of cargo very soon, while adding that consultants are assisting with the improvements.

Premier Smith said, "In the past week, we actually had two, three consultants specialising in port organisation and management meeting here with the Ministry of Communications and they have now developed and outlined a plan to improve efficiency so that things could be moved quickly."

When asked how soon improvements would be noticeable, the Premier stated that "it should be happening anytime soon", adding that they have begun working a few weeks ago.

Safety concerns at Port Purcell

It was on January 23, 2018 that this news site first reported that Her Majesty's Custom had ceased all discharging of cargo at Port Purcell due to safety concerns.

The cease order was put in place because carriers were not removing their containers in a timely manner and this caused safety issues for the employees.

In addition, it caused the delays of persons being able clear goods from the port.

In a recent interview with our newsroom, Mr Wade N. Smith, Commissioner of Customs, said "They are working on that as we speak to ensure that the area is cleaned from a safety standpoint. There have been multiple accidents, with containers falling within the past month. Containers are falling on trucks, [even] crushing a truck. So those are my concerns, safety first.”

13 Responses to “Consultants helping to improve efficiency at Port Purcell- Premier Smith”

  • wize up (09/02/2018, 18:27) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    “CON-sultanas”......password
    • Pay me (09/02/2018, 20:21) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
      I'm the consultant pay me that hundred gran..Here is what it is. The space is too small. Too much rules help to cteate the Turtle movement congestion.. Relax some the rules get things moving faster.. Exyend towards the Fishry. Move the fishry... See. Need my consultant money!!
  • Josiahsbay (09/02/2018, 19:24) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Some time ago I told a port supervisor that the port needed to be organized better and he stated that he didn't see any problem with it. So my question is how do you fix a problem if you dont see one. Heads of departments go in with an attitude that they will run a department to the best of their ability; they should also be expected to improve, make better and make that department operate more efficiently.
  • Too Small. (09/02/2018, 20:16) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    The Space has become too small for the present BVI.. Do anyone realize the amount of goods come into small BVI through that Port..
  • Little Observer (10/02/2018, 06:13) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Why hire a consultant to tell you what the people on the grounds have been saying on a daily basis. We don't like our own and will bring someone from Timbuktu for that person to simply pass a message to the authorities. That is exactly what is happening here. I am on the grounds, consultant comes and walks the grounds while we chat and he tells you what I say because he has no clue, but his word has more weight! How sad. When are the consultants for all the ministries coming? Need some for PWD, Water and sewerage, one for roads, one for hurricane relief distribution, one for immigration, one for finance and the list goes on.
  • Banker (10/02/2018, 06:38) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    New way to steal money
    • wize up (12/02/2018, 08:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ Banker: always remember the first 3-letter in consultants(con)....conman, complan and the CON continues......the con continues we had it under the former folks: when will our own people determine what is good for the BVI
  • The TRUTH (10/02/2018, 07:44) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Who is the consultant here...?..Wade Smith?...cause I was on the dock and I saw Mr Smith in conference with managers from tropical making them clean up the dock and making them move out the empty containers so we can have a safe dock....thanks Mr Smith for taking the initiative
  • The real Boo (10/02/2018, 07:56) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    The Port too small and you keep hiring political cronies instead of competent management. Can I have my hundred grand consultant fee now?
  • streets (11/02/2018, 10:05) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply

    But come to think of it....Wade doing the job for the D- rep As long as the D- rep get his containers off the dock he ain’t care who get theirs or how safe it is

  • question (12/02/2018, 04:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What happens to the shipping containers once they get here and are unloaded?
  • brilliant minds #dead cells (13/02/2018, 16:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Waste of time and money once again. Who are the cons and which minister or rich a@@ are they working with.

    ONLY IN THE BVI.


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