A longstanding Caribbean transport firm primarily based in Brooklyn is dealing with mounting criticism after prospects reported prolonged delays in receiving packages shipped to Tobago — some relationship again to final yr.
Pamela Lindsay, proprietor of Trinbago Categorical Delivery Providers, has operated the enterprise for 27 years from her location at 9909 Foster Ave. in Brooklyn. The corporate additionally maintains two branches in Trinidad and Tobago, serving a loyal buyer base on each side of the Caribbean. However since mid-2023, shoppers have raised issues about undelivered shipments and an absence of accountability.
In a current phase on a neighborhood information program hosted by Shenell Felix, former Tobago Home of Meeting (THA) and Parliamentary Consultant Miriam Caesar-Moore make clear the rising frustration.
“The issue is that since final yr, July or August, over 40 Tobagonians shipped items from America to Tobago,” Caesar-Moore defined. “They have been advised deliveries would arrive inside six to eight weeks, and at the moment they nonetheless haven’t obtained them.”
Caesar-Moore known as for instant motion from the THA, citing each the monetary and emotional toll on affected residents. “This non-public firm in New York took all these consignments and has not delivered but. A variety of Tobagonians are hurting badly. Now we have individuals — small enterprise homeowners — who’ve misplaced over $160,000, together with others nonetheless ready for barrels despatched since Christmas,” she stated.
The complaints span each private and business cargo, starting from family items to merchandise for small retailers.
Regardless of repeated inquiries, prospects say they’ve obtained little info from the corporate about when — or if — their packages can be delivered. Caribbean Life reached out to Ms. Lindsay for her perspective on these points along with her firm, however didn’t obtain a response on the time of publication.
Because the scenario escalates, affected residents and advocates together with Caesar-Moore are calling on authorities in Trinidad and Tobago to research the matter and discover potential avenues for client safety.
“That is extra than simply delayed transport — it’s livelihoods on the road,” stated one pissed off buyer. “We trusted them with our items. Now we simply need solutions.”
One of many native enterprise individuals in Trinidad and Tobago affected by the corporate’s transport points is Caesar-Moore’s son, Derek Moore.
He ordered some main tools in July 2024, which was delivered to their institution. The receptionist, who Moore says normally coordinated his shipments, assured him that it will have been shipped from there in a single week and that he ought to have anticipated the gadgets to reach six weeks later in Tobago. Nonetheless, that didn’t occur.
“On the finish of August, I known as her, and he or she saved avoiding my calls and telling me she didn’t have any info on the time, however the gadgets have been on the best way. I used to be making an attempt to get the price for the cargo and an ETA. This cargo was time delicate as a result of we promised institutions to start out supplying merchandise, and the tools was for that goal,” Moore stated.
Moore began to get pissed off in September when he was not getting affirmation on when the cargo, with perishable gadgets, was despatched out, and the receptionist began to be very evasive. By persistent calling, he was advised that the cargo didn’t exit on time, as a consequence of miscommunication.
After the receptionist assured Moore he would get the cargo in October and apologized, he shared that info with the enterprise institutions his firm was supposed to produce. He later discovered that it was a giant mistake.
“In mid-November of final yr, after I spoke to the native dealer, they knew nothing concerning the cargo. It was not until the center of December that I used to be advised that my cargo could be in Tobago every week earlier than Christmas or between Boxing Day and New Yr’s. It by no means occurred. Since then, I’ve been speaking with them within the USA and Trinidad, and all they do is give misinformation and straight-up lies. I used to be even advised by the receptionist that my gadgets could be in Tobago in 24 hours…never occurred. We even emailed Pam in February; she acted stunned, unaware of the problems. She advised us she would personally make sure that we get the gadgets earlier than the week is out. I had my household go to the institution, and so they acquired the run round,” Moore added.
For Moore, these points have harmed his enterprise, together with shedding not less than US$50,000 in income, main his enterprise to chapter. He defined that the tools was crucial to the expansion of his firm, and to at the present time, it’s nonetheless on the port in Trinidad. He took out loans to buy the gadgets for the cargo, however not getting them brought about him to shut his enterprise late final month as a result of he couldn’t sustain with it with out the gadgets that had rotted on the port.
Moore is only one of many residents in Trinidad and Tobago who’re affected by these transport points, and plenty of in New York Metropolis are additionally affected.
One resident in New York Metropolis affected is Gwennet Phillips, who had been transport gadgets with the corporate over the previous twenty years.
“I shipped gadgets quite a few instances, and I’ve shipped gadgets in September, October, and November 2024. The full quantity of things throughout that time period despatched amounted to eleven items. These things included a tv, bed room furnishings, kitchen home equipment, and home items, to call a number of. Additionally, I had deliberate a celebration for my mother, which was scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. This celebration was canceled as a result of I didn’t obtain something for use for the celebration,” she defined.
Phillips and plenty of others in New York Metropolis are in dire want of solutions, and he or she hopes that this downside can be resolved very quickly.
Since final November, she has not obtained her gadgets or perhaps a letter of apology or an replace from the transport firm for the inconvenience brought about. Though Gwennet is now not concerned about doing enterprise with this transport firm, she needs them the very best.
Discussing what he’d prefer to see finished concerning the course of to enhance the corporate’s effectiveness, Moore acknowledged, “I positively want to be compensated for misplaced enterprise and alternatives. A variety of enchancment must be made with their communication and transparency.”
One other New York Metropolis resident who has been affected is Elizabeth James, who has been coping with the corporate for 5 years. “They shipped a barrel for me final yr, and my household by no means acquired it till six months later. They acquired it, and the stuff in there was spoiled. It was powerful for Christmas, and Pamela hasn’t had any duty for it,” she shared.
Expressing an analogous sentiment to Moore about what she’d prefer to see finished to enhance effectivity within the course of, James shared, “I would love the corporate to be extra open and sincere with its prospects.”
