Operations in Santo Tomas de Castilla are back to normal, after truck drivers and customs agents agreed with the Government to improve conditions at the terminal.
Customs representatives and truck drivers reached an agreement with the Presidential Commissioner for Urban Development, Local Competitiveness and Critical Infrastructure, Enrique Godoy. Elperiodico.com.gt reports that "... among the agreements are better functioning of customs offices, providing them with more staff and fixing or buying machinery that is necessary for the proper functioning of the port, explained Victor Rivera, president of the Association of Customs Agents in Guatemala."
As for businesses, "... Jorge Briz, president of the Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial and Financial Associations (CACIF) warned that although they managed to solve this crisis, these situations occur continuously in national customs offices and it is due to the fact that the SAT does not provide enough staff at the port to carry out all the tasks required. In addition the ports are inefficient, they do not have enough staff and equipment to work quickly and efficiently. "
CACIF reported in a statement that the three-day blockade at the Port Santo Tomas de Castilla resulted in 100 containers not being exported, representing losses of about $7.5 million. "... In relation to bananas, estimated losses are $800,000 for each day of the strike, making a total of $2.4 million. In total 2,100 containers were detained, many of them fruit, vegetables and other non - traditional products. "
The private sector is demanding that the government investigate the possible existence of criminal structures which may be operating in an organized manner behind the strike at some ports and customs offices.
From a statement issued by the Chamber of Agriculture in Guatemala:
In protest against the slow pace with which procedures are processed at customs offices, a group of customs managers and truck drivers have blocked off the entrance to the terminal facilities.
Soy502.com reports that on Friday afternoon "... a group of about 350 people blocked access to facilities of the Port of Santo Tomas de Castilla." The blockades started on Wednesday, March 9, causing delays and discomfort for exporters and importers.
Businessmen have complained to the Executive office about the slowness and inefficiency of customs inspections of the country, where containers are retained for up to 15 days.
The truckers blockade which paralyzed customs offices in Jutiapa for a week, has made entrepreneurs question the efficiency of border posts in the country because of the time invested in land transport.
Guatemala carriers have blocked passage through customs posts at Pedro de Alvarado, Jutiapa, in protest against the excessive slowness of procedures for entering El Salvador.
The slowness of customs formalities as a result of the computer system crash caused some 300 carriers to form a blockade using their trucks from Sunday February 28th on the route to the customs office in Ciudad Pedro de Alvarado, located in Moyuta, in the Guatemalan department of Jutiapa, on the border with El Salvador.
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