Companies in Bahrain could be set to lose major contracts as a result of delays being suffered by truckers crossing the King Fahad Causeway into Saudi Arabia. Businessmen said they had received frantic calls from customers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE on why goods they had ordered had not been delivered, as drivers take up to four days to cross the border.
A lack of space and issues with clearing agents and Customs officials have been blamed for the problem, which has reportedly been going on for a month and allegedly worsened overnight. "We have done all we could and are unable to go anywhere else," said Tariq Transport managing director Tariq Al Wardi. "We have been to Customs and they said the clearing agents are at fault. "We ask clearing agents and they say Customs officials are lazy and when we go to the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry they said everyone is at fault." Al Wardi said the situation had worsened overnight and more than 250 trucks were waiting to cross in Saudi Arabia at midday yesterday. "We have fully loaded vehicles waiting in Janabiya but these are unable to go.
Several trucks were sent on their way but were turned back from the border." He said more than a dozen trucks from his company were already in the queue while others were ready to depart. "We have been receiving calls from customers wanting to know why their consignments had not arrived," he said, warning many suppliers in Bahrain had told them their orders risked cancellation if the goods were not delivered. "If this continues for a while, many businesses will be severely hit." Al Wardi Transport managing director Turki Al Wardi said nearly a third of the more than 200 trucks delayed were from his company. "We had between 60 and 70 waiting on Tuesday but nearly 100 are now waiting and there is nothing we can do," he said. Meanwhile, one of the drivers told our sister newspaper, the Gulf Daily News yesterday three of his colleagues had handed in their notice as a result of the delays and returned home. "They said they were unable to stay on under the circumstances," he said. "We are all suffering for several days now and want this misery to end.” "We have to be without the very basic amenities and have to stay close to our vehicles at all times because the traffic policemen can come to escort us out at any time."
A businessman from Ma'ameer confirmed he has been given a deadline of tomorrow by a Dubai customer for delivery of machine parts he had ordered. "Over the last six weeks, my consignments have always been delayed due to border problems. This is becoming very problematic now," he said. The GDN reported yesterday that many of the truckers had run out of food, water and petrol and have been forced to depend on the kindness of drivers and residents living nearby to survive.
