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News from the Caribbean as of
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US, Jamaica to screen for radiation
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
WASHINGTON, USA (UPI): The United States and Jamaica have agreed to install radiation detection equipment at Jamaican ports.
The equipment will screen seagoing cargo containers to protect both countries against nuclear terrorism, the U.S. government said Tuesday.
"Protecting global shipping lanes from being used by terrorists to smuggle nuclear materials is critical for U.S. national security and the national security of our international partners. Cooperating with the government of Jamaica will enable our countries to further international nonproliferation efforts," said National Nuclear Security Administration chief Linton Brooks in a press release announcing the agreement.
The two governments signed a Declaration of Principles to implement both the Customs and Border Patrol Container Security Initiative and the National Nuclear Security Administration's Megaports Initiative to intercept nuclear and other radioactive material shipped by smugglers and terrorists.
Similar partnerships exist with the Netherlands, Greece and other nations, and representatives from Europe, Asia, South America, the Middle East and the Caribbean are discussing with the United States a program to install radiation detection systems at key port facilities worldwide, according to NNSA.
While the Megaport and Container Security Initiative programs help identify high-risk containers, they do not screen all cargo for dangerous substances. Only one port in the world -- the port of Hong Kong -- has the capability to screen 100 percent of the cargo containers that move through the port. The technology is part of a pilot program that was conceived by the shipping industry and but so far has not been adopted by other governments and port authorities.
The Hong Kong pilot program, the Integrated Container Inspection System, was the brainchild of Stephen Flynn, a maritime security expert and fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. The pilot program uses no government funding; it is carried out with funding and by the cooperation of American contractor SAIC and the Hong Kong Terminal Operators Association.
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