The Comptroller of Customs said he intends have all containers leaving the Port of Port of Spain scanned.
During a Joint Select Committee hearing on Wednesday, Comptroller Riad Juman revealed that not all containers leaving the port are scanned.
When questioned by Senator Phillip Alexander about the numbers of containers scanned at the Port, Mr Juman said his goal is to achieve full coverage.
“That is my intention, having taken office in August (2025). That is my intention, to have 100% of the containers leaving the Port to have been scanned by the Customs.”
The inquiry revealed that while the scanner opens from 7am to 10pm, most containers come in for scans around noon creating a bottleneck at lunch time.
When this happens containers leave the Port of Port of Spain during afternoon rush-hour traffic, exacerbating traffic conditions.
“We don’t can 100% of the containers leaving the Port,” Juman revealed, “Most of them are allowed to leave the Port once we do the documentary checks, and the screening. The customs agents are then allowed to take clearance and delivery from the Port Authority to leave. We have no control over that.”
