Local operators forced out…BaiShanLin takes over river transport

There is growing anger by local contractors over unfair competition from BaiShanLin, a Chinese company that

Bharrat Jagdeo

has been handed waivers, tax breaks and duty-free concessions by the Jagdeo administration.
Days after truckers complained that BaiShanLin has been taking away their businesses, there are more accusations now.
This time, barge operators who have been fetching sand and logs for local private companies, are accusing BaiShanLin of muscling its way in and hijacking the riverain transportation business.
An operator who has been in business for more than two decades, said that his usual 10 trips a month have been reduced to almost zero.
“I have more than five crewmen and they have families. My payroll is almost $1M monthly. How can we compete against the Chinese when they have been granted so many concessions?
“We pay taxes on everything. I am asking the new President, David Granger, to investigate this. They are offering their service far cheaper than us. They can afford it. We can’t.”