By John Myers Jr., Staff ReporterPRIME MINISTER P.J. Patterson yesterday commissioned five new hi-tech mobile container inspection systems at the Kingston Container Terminal, Kingston, bolstering, he said, the country's ability to prevent the smuggling of weapons and illicit drugs.
The systems are also in line with new international maritime requirements, especially in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.
Mr. Patterson, in his address to the gathering at the terminal, said by establishing proper security measures at the ports, "We protect our ability to participate in international trade, particularly with our major trading partners - the U.S., Canada and Europe."
"This could be seriously jeopardised if the Government lacks capacity to ensure that this sector is not used as a vehicle to carry out terrorist acts against another country," he said.
Robert Pickersgill, Minister of Transport and Works and whose Ministry has portfolio responsibility for the ports, said the Government has spent in excess of US$60 million so far in providing top rate security equipment for the wharves.
The five machines, four to be placed at the Kingston Container Terminal and one in Montego Bay, is part of a package which includes 10 new Gamma Ray machines acquired at a cost of US$13.3 million. This was done through an agreement signed with U.S. security systems provider Science Application International Corporation (SAIC) in July of last year. The remaining five VACIS Pallet Cobalt Gamma Ray machines are expected to arrive in the island in the coming weeks.
According to Mr. Patterson, security at the nation's transshipment ports has been a priority as "no port is immune from such negative and destructive forces as the international drug trade, the smuggling of small arms and contraband, including the movement of nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological and other deadly materials."
Additionally, the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) is currently installing a closed circuit television (CCTV) system for all the time surveillance and an access control system to electronically control and regulate access to all major ports. The Ports Authority of Jamaica is also expected to acquire two security boats shortly, Mr. Pickersgill added.
The mobile Gamma Ray system is truck mounted and is capable of inspecting both stationary and moving vehicles from both sides. It can scan a 40-foot container in less than six seconds, with average cycle times of one to three minutes.
