On the morning of November 1st, 2023, the ship Cygnus, coming from Colombia, docked at the international port of Saint Louis du Sud, with a cargo of 82,000 bags of cement on board.

However, after inspection by agents of the Office for the Fight against Drug Trafficking (BLTS), the National Port Authority (APN) and the General Directorate of Customs, the customs director prohibited the disembarkation of the ship and informed that the responsible authorities want the boat to be unloaded in Port-au-Prince, without giving details on the reasons for this decision...

The local authorities say they are scandalized and insist on the need for this ship to be thoroughly inspected on site to verify that it complies with import standards in order to authorize the disembarkation of its precious cargo since the Dominican embargo on the construction materials https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40698-haiti-flash-partial-reopening-of-the-dominican-border-new-measures-and-an-embargo.html

"This is the first commercial ship that the General Administration of Customs (AGD) without any explanation does not approve of the disembarkation" declared Vilarson Charles, President of the committee of the think tank for the opening and operation of the Port of Saint-Louis du Sud.

Reacting strongly to this ban, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the South (CCI-Sud) in a note, said it was surprised by this ban and advised the General Directorate of Customs to reverse its decision, taking all necessary measures. necessary measures to have the boat properly inspected on site, convinced that the movement of inspectors will be less costly than ordering the captain of the "Cygnus" to set sail again towards the West...

Furthermore, the CCI South warned against any attempt to block the path of local entrepreneurs facing enormous difficulties due to the control of Martissant by armed gangs. The use of the Port of Saint Louis makes it possible to open up the peninsula and has the direct consequence of a drop in product prices.

PI/ HaitiLibre