Truckers at Beirut Port Suspend Strike over Fourth Basin after Salam's Pledge to Resolve Crisis

The truckers syndicate at Beirut Port announced on Tuesday the suspension of their strike in protest against the fourth basin at the facility after receiving a pledge from Prime Minister Tammam Salam to “resolve the crisis.”

The syndicate was informed of the pledge by Education Minister Elias Bou Saab.

Head of the syndicate, Naim Sawaya said that the strike “was suspended at the wishes of Salam, Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, bishop Boulos Sayyah, General Seurity chief Abbas Ibrahim, and various parties.”

Earlier, Bou Saab and Sayyah had visited Salam at the Grand Serail on Monday to pressure him into finding a solution to the project to fill the basin.

Their visit came after the truckers syndicate at Beirut Port temporarily closed the entrance to the facility pending a solution by the government to the controversial project.

The syndicate claims that the filling of the basin would end the role of Beirut Port and would harm the economy.

The project will give more space to store containers. But there are fears that transforming the Port of Beirut into a transshipment hub would direct large vessels to the Port of Tripoli because the fourth basin will no longer be able to accept big cargo ships.

This will allegedly cause hundreds of Beirut Port employees, mostly truckers, to lose their jobs.

The rival Christian parties back the truckers.

Sayyah and Bou Saab briefed on Tuesday the syndicates at Beirut Port and the representatives of Christian parties during a meeting in Bkirki on the results of their talks with Salam.

Bou Saab denied in remarks to reporters that there was unanimity on filling the fourth basin and said he and the bishop are seeking to end the strike as a first positive step towards resolving the crisis.

In remarks published in several local dailies, Bou Saab said Salam pledged to resolve the problem without damaging the current strategy or harming public interest.

The minister ruled out putting the issue on the cabinet's agenda.

But Economy Minister Alain Hakim stressed that the ministers representing Christian parties will propose to discuss the subject from outside the cabinet agenda during the upcoming session.

As Safir daily quoted an informed source as saying that the first solution to the crisis lies in stopping the work to fill the basin pending an agreement on it.

Tourism Minister Michel Pharaon told the same newspaper that discussions are currently underway on whether the entire basin or only major part of it will be filled.

“The issue could be reviewed technically and economically to guarantee a transparent operation,” he said.

G.K.

H.K.