Jamaicans with goods sitting uncollected at the island’s ports are being warned to retrieve them promptly or risk losing ownership, as authorities move to clear mounting congestion in storage facilities.
Chairman of the Port Authority of Jamaica, Professor Gordon Shirley, reported that unclaimed shipments—particularly barrels and personal goods—are occupying critical warehouse space across several ports.
He provided the update during a recent session of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC), where officials examined operational challenges affecting port efficiency.
The issue intensified in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, which disrupted shipping activities and contributed to delays. However, Professor Shirley noted that the primary concern now is the accumulation of unattended cargo, including relief items and personal shipments.
He explained that confusion over government announcements led some individuals to believe that combining regular goods with relief supplies would exempt entire shipments from customs duties. This misunderstanding has resulted in a backlog of consolidated containers—shipments made up of multiple smaller consignments such as barrels intended for personal use.
To address the situation, authorities plan to relocate long-unclaimed goods to the government’s holding facility, commonly referred to as the King’s Warehouse. Items left there for extended periods may ultimately be seized and sold at public auction.
In an effort to encourage collection, the Port Authority has introduced incentives, including waivers on standard fees and duties, along with reduced demurrage charges.
Professor Shirley emphasized that the congestion problem is limited to consolidated cargo. He noted that full container shipments, typically used for commercial and transshipment purposes, continue to move through the ports without disruption.
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