COMMONWEALTH Ports Authority officials and Rota Terminal & Transfer office manager Viola H. Atalig met Tuesday to discuss critical issues at the Rota seaport.
In an interview on Wednesday, CPA Board Vice Chairman Antonio B. Cabrera said he, along with Executive Director Leo Tudela and Rota Ports Manager Albert Taitano, met with Atalig at the Rota seaport office at 10 a.m. Tuesday, to discuss the lack of stevedoring services on the island.
Cabrera said they told Atalig that the problems facing RT&T should be resolved so it can continue providing stevedoring services at the Rota seaport and ensure commerce on island is not interrupted. He said Atalig agreed.
Variety was unable to get a comment from RT&T.
Among other things, Cabrera said RT&T must submit its corporate reports to the Registrar of Corporation and settle its outstanding debts to International Bridge & Construction Marianas Inc., which owns the 80-ton crane that RT&T was using to offload shipments at the seaport.
On April 10, IBCM President Robert W. Toelkes informed CPA that IBCM had suspended crane services to RT&T due to the non-payment of at least $100,000 of the outstanding balance of $200,000.
Cabrera said fortunately, there is no shipment schedule that will require the service of a big crane at the Rota seaport. Right now, he said only small vessels are arriving on the island, and their cargoes require a smaller crane.
Nevertheless, he said CPA reiterated to Atalig the “prevailing concerns of the members of the community, the shipping agents and other port users.”
