By Admin. Updated 7:25 p.m., Sunday, April 21, 2024, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Five persons employed with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Port Authority SVGPA received dismissal letters on Friday over their handling of a specific pallet containing items at the Campden Park Container Port.
One of the impacted workers says the issue is due to miscommunication, but the SVG Port Authority in a dismissal letter obtained by One News SVG has termed the workers’ actions as “unauthorized” and “dishonest”.
The development stems from a March 5, 2024 incident where an officer asked port workers to assist in dismantling a pallet from Shed #2 at the Campden Park Container Port.
The side of the story from the dismissed workers viewpoint:
One of the dismissed workers spoke to One News SVG anonymously and gave their side of the story.
According to the individual, in early March 2024, an Officer at the port asked some port workers to bring up a pallet that was sitting at the Campden Park Container Port for over 2 years and was going to be transported to Kingstown to be actioned off by the Customs Department after doing the necessary paper works. The individual said they (the SVG Port Authority workers) were told that if they saw anything among the items that they wanted, they could take something.
Some of the items included chainsaws, weed whackers, pot sets, microwaves, air fryers, and other items.
According to the source, an unnamed employee on the compound who was not informed about what was happening saw the workers sorting the items from the pallet and reported the scene to the officials at the main office saying the port workers were stealing the items.
The worker told One News SVG that the Customs Department was asked to write a report about the matter and in that report the department allegedly stated that they had not lost anything. According to the individual who reported the matter anonymously to One News SVG, despite the alleged blessing from the Customs Department, the SVG Port Authority wanted the workers to disclose the information of the items they took and the name of the individual who gave them permission to take the items.
At the time, the SVG Port Authority was still effectively the custodian over the items that were being prepared to be transported to Kingstown for auction by the SVG Customs Department, One News SVG understands.
One News SVG’s investigations have found that when the impacted workers realized that the individual who gave them permission to take the items might have been doing so out of goodness but not with the requisite authority, they provided no information on which officer gave them permission to take the items. Additionally, the miscommunication was grave since the issue was already “blown out of proportion” due to what one port worker saw and reported to the Port Authority’s main office.
According to the individual, nothing like this has ever happened before and the records of all the affected parties are healthy.
One News SVG understands that a police officer was also involved in the sorting of the items from the pallet after taking up the offer made by the individual at the port. A sixth port worker was also impacted by the incident, but left the SVGPA.
The side of the story from the SVG Port Authority, as outlined in the dismissal letter obtained by One News SVG:
The dismissal letter obtained by One News SVG and signed by a De-Aon A. Sayers – Manager – Human Resource & Corporate Affairs at the SVG Port Authority said:
“I write to you concerning an incident which occurred on March 05, 2024, where you were involved in the unauthorized removal of cargo from the Shed #2 in Campden Park.”
“In a meeting on April 04, 2024 with the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Manager – Human Resource & Corporate Affairs and the Operating Officer (ag), you advised that you were requested by your supervisor to assist in dismantling a pallet and removing the empty boxes that were found on the pallet,” the letter said.
“You were then advised that both your verbal and written statements on what transpired were contradicted by the Port’s investigation inclusive of the camera footage of the said day which indicated that cargo were taken the supervisor’s office, subsequently loaded by you and other staff members to varous vehicles and then transported off the Port’s compound,” the letter added.
“You however maintained that only empty boxes were dismantled and/or removed from the Port’s compound. You further advised that some of the boxes were used to stage a scene as though items were being stolen to ‘give employees things to talk about on the Port. In a second meeting on April 05, 2024 in the presence of the Chief Executive Officer, Manager – Human Resource & Corporate Affairs and the Operating Officer (ag), you were given the opportunity to view the footage taken from the Port’s surveillance cameras on March 05, 2024. The footage showed the following,” the letter stated.
“The cargo was shrink wrapped, intact and the cartons were all sealed/unopened. The pallets were broken down and you assisted in taking cargo to the supervisor’s office. Vehicles were brought to the shed thereafter; cargo was loaded by yourself and other employees and left without following the required Port cargo exit procedure,” the letter stated.
“Your actions are unacceptable and a gross breach of the SVG Port Authority’s Code of Discipline as follows, Violation #6(i): Dishonesty, Violation #7: Removing the Company’s property without Permission, Violation #10, Failure to observe the rules, Violation #14: Corrupt Practice, and Violation #16: Making false statements,” the letter said.
According to the letter, the impacted employees then admitted that they moved Cargo from the port, but still did not reveal the name of the officer who gave them the permission to do so.
“These violations are serious infractions which will not be tolerated; the SVG Port Authority is the custodian of the customer’s cargo and as such we have a responsibility to ensure that cargo in our care is kept secure and safely transferred in accordance to the policies and procedures of the organisation,” the letter stated.
“Therefore, in light of the above and in accordance with the provision of Section 9 & 15 of the Protection of Employment Act 20 of 2003 and the Port’s Code of Discipline, the SVG Port Authority has taken a decision to terminate your services effective April 19, 2024,” the letter added.
“You are also requested to immediately return your Port Authority issued Identification card to the Human Resource Department. Further information in reference to your contributions made to the Port Authority’s pension plan will be communicated to you in a subsequent letter,” the letter stated.
“The Council, Management and Staff of the SVG Port Authority thank you for your years of service and wish you all the best in the future,” the closure of the SVGPA signed and stamped letter stated.
One News SVG is tracking this story and will bring more details revealed in ongoing investigations.
One News SVG 