THE MINISTRY of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade says it is considering seriously the threat of terrorism to Jamaica.
Minister of State in the Foreign Ministry, Senator Delano Franklyn, said yesterday: "The issue is one of serious concern, not only to the Government of Jamaica, but the entire Caribbean and CARICOM in particular."
However, speaking to The Gleaner in the wake of reports that a United States official has warned the region of an array of opportunities for terrorists, Senator Franklyn added: "We have not heard anything specific from the U.S. State Department."
SOFT TARGETS
It was reported yesterday that, in a meeting with eastern Caribbean leaders, U.S. State Department counter-terrorism co-ordinator, J. Cofer Black, said the nations of the Caribbean presented a broad range of soft targets, including tourist and economic targets.
"Cruise liners, ports and airports, hotel resorts, the energy sector these are the kinds of targets that the international terrorists have exploited in such unsuspecting places as Indonesia, Kenya and the Caribbean," he said.
Senator Franklyn said that, expressing its full support for the Comprehensive Convention Against Inter-national Terrorism, Jamaica is co-operating with the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee.
"This is in keeping with the seriousness with which we are treating the matter," he said.
"Jamaica fully understands what any form of terrorism can do as it relates to our economy," he added, pointing out that the local economy suffered tremendously as a result of the terrorist bombing of the World Trade Center in the U.S. on September 11, 2001.
He further stated that it is important that Jamaica update, amend, and draft new legislation in the fight against terrorism.
"The Ministry of National Security has been continuously reviewing security at the islands ports of entry," he added.
Highlighting a number of the initiatives undertaken by the Jamaican Government, Senator Franklyn told The Gleaner that the country has signed both the 1999 International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Financing and the International Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime.
