Updated: Consumers hit hard by cement shortage

CONSUMERS seeking to purchase cement have been having a hard time as a number of local hardwares are without stock.
Newsday spoke with workers at six hardwares across Trinidad, including Arima, Couva and Chaguanas, and none of them reported having any cement. A worker at a hardware in Caroni said they had no stock because the factories had been closed owing to the pandemic. A worker at a hardware in San Fernando said they had not received any cement from their suppliers.
"Nobody has," he added.

On local radio stations people have called in complaining that they were unable to get cement to purchase.
A number of people commented on Newsday's story on Thursday and spoke about their difficulties.
"Right around the country have none. Not Mayaro, Rio Claro, Tableland, Princes Town, San Fernando. None whatsoever."

Another person said they searched for cement in Tobago on Wednesday and could not find any.
A third person said retailers were selling cement for $100 per bag; a bag of cement usually retails for about $44-$45. One construction worker told Newsday that there was no cement available to buy and the few hardwares that had stock were extorting people with the $100 price.
Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon told Newsday the matter was being looked at closely.
When the stay-at-home orders for March 30-April 15 were announced, construction was not listed as an essential service and only construction workers in health-related work were allowed to operate. The order was extended to April 30 and then further extended to May 10.

Local cement supplier Trinidad Cement Ltd ceased almost all of its operations with the covid19 regulations. TCL, in a statement on its website, said only certain activities related to the safe operation and preservation of the kiln and certain port operations have remained active. Also in compliance with the regulations TCL's subsidiaries TCL Ponsa Manufacturing Ltd and Readymix (West Indies) Ltd halted all operations during the prescribed period. Also the group's cement-manufacturing facility in Checker Hall, St Lucy, Barbados, halted operations following covid19 orders issued by the Barbados government.

TCL communications manager Michelle Langton, in an e-mailed message to Newsday, said the group had implemented many covid19 counter-measures across all their operations in TT based on international best practices from their worldwide operations.
"And are ready to operate safely when permission is received from the Government for us to resume production and dispatching."

She said the company's plant at Claxton Bay has a very large capacity "and we are ready to fully supply the local market and many other Caricom countries."

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

CONSUMERS seeking to buy cement have been having a hard time as a number of local hardwares are without stock.
Newsday spoke with various hardwares throughout Trinidad, including Arima, Couva and Chaguanas, and none reported having any cement. A worker at a hardware in Caroni said they had no stock because the factories had been closed owing to the pandemic. A worker at a hardware in San Fernando said they have not received any cement from their suppliers.
"Nobody has," he said.
Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon told Newsday the matter was being looked at closely.
When the stay-at-home orders for March 30-April 15 were announced, construction was not listed as an essential service and only construction workers in health-related work were allowed to operate. The order was extended to April 30 and then further to May 10.