Shipping companies in the DR chose to suspend port service to protest the Dominican Port Authority’s decision that grants 50% of the truck lift cargo at the Port of Haina to the Asociacion de Operadores de Montacargas, an affiliate of the powerful Fenatrado truckers union. Manuel Arias Mella, president of the Shippers’ Association, says that the shippers need to keep control of this cargo because they are responsible for it at that point and its transport requires specialized equipment. The shippers association does not object the association handling free cargo. Meanwhile, Fenatrado announced the paralyzing of the port to protest the shipper’s not adhering to the Port Authority decision. The impasse affects the government’s customs income. The director of Customs, Victor Sanchez Baret said that 65% of the port revenues are produced at the Haina port. He said that he would try to lobby for a solution given the effect on government revenues.
