Crystallex International

Work stoppage at Venezuela's busiest cargo port
February 24, 2010 18:14 EST

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Dozens of businesses providing services for Venezuela's busiest cargo port have halted their activities, including loading and unloading ships.

Edgar Lamper, a representative of some 140 businesses that provide services in Puerto Cabello, says Venezuela's state-run port authority hasn't paid them in more than four months.

Lamper says the businesses, along with about 3,000 workers, have stopped operations at the port. Roughly 70 percent of the cargo containers shipped in and out of Venezuela move through Puerto Cabello.

Lamper suggested Wednesday that the work stoppage will continue until authorities to respond to their demands for payment. "We want to be paid," he told Union Radio.