The majority of security officers assigned to the Port of Port of Spain remained off the job yesterday and left both the Port and the inter-island ferry unmanned for the day, according to the Estate Police Association (EPA).

Curtis Robertson, EPA's first vice president, yesterday said workers were dissatisfied with the slow pace of negotiations and could not guarantee when they would return to work.

"There was no security on the ferry this morning (yesterday), the men are tired, frustrated and just burnt out. They working long hours, still on 2006 salaries," Robertson said.

Robertson said someone would have to take responsibility if there were any incidents on board the ferry yesterday.

"I don't know how they going to deal with that," he said.

Robertson said the workers frustration stemmed from the lack of response from the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) and called on the Transport Minister Devant Maharaj to intervene and help resolve the matter.

"We are saying that it cannot be that you deal with the SWWTU (Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union) one way and deal with the EPA another way," he said.

"We sent a proposal to the CPO, which was approved under the former chairman (Clive Spencer), but the CPO not returning any instructions," he said.

Maharaj, in an e-mail response yesterday, said he held immediate discussions with the PATT's chairman Joseph Toney yesterday to review the collective bargaining agreement and re-open dialogue after the EPA has voiced their concerns.

"This follows the apparent industrial action where, out of the 54 Estate Police that was supposed to assume duty, 34 withdrew their services," he said.

Maharaj said Toney instructed management to "address this concern immediately" and they sought further guidelines from the CPO.  Maharaj said he was hoping for a "equally swift" response on the matter.

Maharaj said he will continue to monitor the progress of the negotiations so as to ensure that the business community and the other stakeholders of the PATT do not suffer as a result of any unwarranted action at the port.