Page Seven / La Paz
After more than a month of delays to cross the border with Chile with their cargo, carriers do not see a solution to the long lines of up to five days that they have to make before entering the enclosure due to the greater controls of officials from the neighboring country. against coronavirus.
The Government reported that in recent days there has been a greater flow and that the positivity of cases of contagion has been reduced with the PCR tests that Inlasa takes on site.
A transporter who was at the border until the weekend reported that between 500 and 700 trucks remained waiting to reach the milestone from Tambo Quemado to the line.
He pointed out that the problems to pass through the port of Arica with the Bolivian cargo began in the last months of 2021 and the delay increased from two days, four and up to 7 days. Now the delay is still 5 days.
He added that although taking Inlasa PCR tests in Tambo Quemado helps and gives a negative result, the problem is that the nasal antigen tests that Chilean authorities take from drivers are positive.
“The congestion persists, the carriers spend 200 bolivianos in vain on the PCR tests that Inlasa takes, because they arrive at the Chilean site and test positive. Until the weekend from Tambo Quemado to the queue there were 500 to 700 trucks, “said the carrier.
Other drivers from the border ask the authorities to take the necessary steps because they have been away for several days.
The Vice Minister of Foreign Trade, Benjamín Blanco, reported that an average of 100 trucks are passing through to Chile and on Sunday only one driver tested positive.
“It is going to be requested that the requirement of the nasal antigen test be eliminated on the Chilean side. As we are taking PCR tests with Inlasa at the border, as a State we attest that this certificate is valid,” Blanco told Unitel.
He assured that everything will depend on the evaluation carried out with the neighboring country because taking the tests can even be carried out randomly and thus not be an obstacle.
He added that positivity dropped to less than 1% in recent days in carriers that carry merchandise to Chile.
The delay at the border crossing harms the export cargo of different products that must reach the port.
