Chemical weapons workshop in Dominica a success

by Christine St. Marie
Caribbean Net News Dominica Correspondent

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

ROSEAU, Dominica:  A two-day workshop on chemical weapons held in Dominica, last Thursday and Friday has been deemed a success by its organizers. The workshop was a collaborative effort between the Dominica Bureau of Standards and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Marketing.

The Bureau of Standards is the National Authority of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), under the Directorship of Dr. Steve John.

The OPCW based in The Hague, Netherlands, is governed by the Chemicals Weapon Convention.

Dr. John stated that the workshop was a success in terms of the level of information that was put forward.

“We are now hoping to create a network of the key players, to see to it that we follow suit with the CWC”, Dr. John said. He is also hoping that with the information received, participants will be able to easily identify and handle chemicals in an appropriate manner.

As a member state, Dominica has an obligation to inform the OPCW on all activities dealing with chemical weapons, taking place within the country.

Dominica is also subjected to inspection by the Organization, as well as training in capacity building.

The workshop was facilitated by, Anand Dhavle-OPCW Expert, Lisa Tabassi, Legal Expert of the OPCW Secretariat, and U. S. Expert, Kevin Farmer.

It brought together representatives from the Dominica Police Force, Dominica Fire and Ambulance Services, Dominica Port Authority, Dominica Customs and Excise, Dominica Pesticide Board, chemical importers and the various Ministries involved.

The participants were impressed with the level of information that was disseminated.

According to Fire Officer, Steve Johnson, the workshop gave him a better understanding of what the Bureau of Standards and the OPCW is all about.

“I am also now seeing how serious chemical weapons are and how they can easily be produced”.

Port Facility Security Officer and Marine Manager of the Dominica Port Authority, Eric Charles, said “It was very interesting, especially in terms of chemical storage, proper labeling and the procedure that needs to be followed before any chemical is sent to Dominica”.

During the seminar, port officials complained that on several occasions, chemicals are imported into Dominica, unlabelled or labeled in foreign languages. They also complained that officials are at times, not informed in advance, of the product that is to be imported. That poses a serious problem.

Blanford Joseph of the Ministry of Agriculture related an experience where, on a particular day some chemicals were imported on the island, labeled in Chinese.

According to him, the chemicals were detained and had to be gotten rid of.

“We were left with the chemicals on our hands, and there was really nothing much we could do about it, but to bury it”.

Another problem sighted is that chemicals that are no longer being used in Dominica are still being imported in bulk.

Former Director of Public Prosecution, Attorney Adrian Wynante Roberts brought up the issue of prosecuting in a chemical weapons case.

She pointed out that Dominica does not have all the necessary facilities or equipment to produce and test certain chemicals. Therefore, she suggested that Dominica works in collaboration with other member states that may be more advanced, in order to facilitate the process.

The concerns of the participants were noted by the OPCW experts, who promise to look into these matters.

Interesting to note was the fact that Dominica, though not chemical producing country per se, there are certain plants grown here that contain chemicals that could be used for destructive purposes. For example, the seeds of the castor oil plant or the cassava plant.

Hence, there is in fact a need for concern, in terms of the use and misuse of chemical weapons in Dominica.

It was therefore suggested that training programmes be set up for the schools to sensitize students about the dangers of chemical weapons.

Dominica was commended for doing well under the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The experts of OPCW urged the local authorities involved to encourage other member states in the region to join the organization.

The OPCW, which began with 8 parties, now has 167 member states, after eight years.

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