ANTI-DRUG JAMAICA Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guards are to be used to search the hull of shipping vessels for illegal drugs rather than specialist civilian divers, Prime Minister P. J. Patterson said yesterday.
He also said the Government would soon be installing a comprehensive camera system for the inspection of cargo, as well as satellite and computer tracking systems for containers at the island's ports.
Speaking at the official opening of the US$102 million expansion of the Kingston Container Terminal at Port Bustamante in Kingston yesterday, Mr. Patterson, referred to the murders of three specialist divers over the past few months and said the government would not be putting the lives of any more specialist civilian divers at risk.
"We're going to have to get the JDF, the Coast Guard to be involved in this operation and we are going to be introducing whatever equipment that is necessary because we are going to beat the criminals," he said.
Mr. Patterson was responding to concerns raised earlier by the President of Zim-American Israeli Shipping Company, Shaul Cohen-Mintz, that the issue of drug trafficking, "if not dealt with in a timely and proper manner by the highest authorities in Jamaica, might result in the 'kiss of death' to this port."
Despite commending the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) for the job done in expanding the port to standards comparable to other ports in the world, Mr. Cohen-Mintz said the drug problem, if not addressed, "could turn this beautiful terminal into a 'white elephant', causing tens of millions of dollars to go down the drain and hundreds of people to lose their jobs.
"This is a very sensitive issue," said the ZIM president. "We the users of this port expect to be able to use this port free of danger ... this is done in many other world terminals."
Alluding to the security consideration, Mr. Patterson later told the ZIM and other representatives of shipping lines at the opening ceremony that it was not his intention to ignore them because they were essential to the survival and growth of the port.
He said systems have been put in place at great cost to prevent the movement of contraband including drugs, illegal guns and ammunition though the ports, and that port in particular.
"But we have to admit that we have not achieved 100 per cent success and we can't stop until we attain that level of protection and so we are constantly reviewing and upgrading these systems because, as recent events show, our criminals are becoming more technologically advanced and sophisticated in their methods as well," said Mr. Patterson.
In addition to Jamaica's domestic concerns, he said, the tragic events of September 11 have compelled the island to focus on circumstances which threaten the survival "of all of us."
Consequently, he said, in addition to increased measures at the ports since the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington in September, the Jamaican Government would be installing electronic devices for the inspection of cargo.
"Where human beings are fallible we want machines that can find out what needs to be found out, and that are not capable of any influence or persuasion by any force whatsoever," the Prime Minister said.
