The Opposition has attributed the congestion at the Port of Kingston to the government’s inaction and lack of vision in capitalizing on the opportunities the port presents to local businesses. 

The statement comes amid complaints by stakeholders and shipping clients, especially business operators, who have not received items shipped, in time for the holiday period. 

In a statement, Spokesperson on Industry, Investment, Trade & Global Logistics, Anthony Hylton, stressed that until the cargo imbalance that characterizes Jamaica’s trade situation is addressed, the annual congestion at the Port of Kingston will remain a source of frustration and risk to local importers.

He said while the current congestion stems partly from uncertainties in the global and regional shipping industry, Jamaica’s inability to develop the logistics infrastructure in and around the port has been the key inhibiting factor. 

The spokesman said this shortfall prevents the port from being recognized by the global maritime industry as a logistics hub and a major player in regional and global trade, despite its status as a well-known trans-shipment hub. 

He said the government must act urgently to take the port to the next level.

Meantime, Mr Hylton said it is unacceptable that nearly 8 years after the cabinet accepted the World Bank report endorsing the logistics hub initiative and more than 10 years since the Cayman Special Economic Zone was first proposed, the government is only now promising to ‘break ground’ for the ‘derisking’ of the project. 

He said this failure is compounded by the lack of new, significant investments in industries attracted to the special economic zones to date. 

Altogether, the spokesman said this reflects a lack of understanding of the critical connection between the port, special economic zones, and the necessary investments in logistics infrastructure to build resilience in Jamaica’s supply and value chains.