THE island's points of entry is expected to be outfitted with the long-awaited X-ray equipment by December. Port Authority officials have selected the Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System (VACIS) X-ray, which officials say, will detect and consequently wipe out illegal goods coming into the country.The machines, which have not yet been ordered, are manufactured by a California-based company in the United States. They are expected to be installed at Port Bustamante and Montego Freeport and they have the capacity to detect illegal guns and ammunition entering the island.
Chairman of the Port Authority of Jamaica, Dr. Noel Hylton, said last week that foreign officials will be training locals to operate the machine, and in two years, Jamaicans would be in charge.
"I do not believe that we will have the equipment before another six months. Unless we can get a position in the production line because the factory is overflowing with orders," Dr. Hylton said on Friday.
Dr. Hylton said that the Port Authority is now awaiting Cabinet approval of the budget for the equipment which will each cost US$2 million (almost J$100 million). At least six machines will be bought.
"As soon as we get approval from Cabinet, we will be asking the US Customs and US Coast Guard to send a team to help us determine what is the best type of software to use. Right now, we are working on the details of a security manual and meeting with different interest groups, because we do not pretend to know it all," Dr. Hylton noted.
