John Myers Jr., Staff Reporter
THE IMPLEMENTATION of new security arrangements at the island's ports of entry has resulted in an increase of some $1 billion in revenues by the Customs Department.
The revelation was made by Robert Pickersgill, minister of Transport and Works, during his contribution to the 2005/2006 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives Tuesday. He pointed out that the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) had recently acquired an Aracor x-ray machine to further boost the port's capabilities for surveillance of goods imported into the country. He said the new machine, which has a more powerful x-raying capability, will be used to scan all agricultural and refrigerated cargo coming into the island.
In addition, the Transport and Works Minister, who has oversight responsibility for the island's ports, told the House that "we are completing the installation of 39 cameras to provide coverage for the monitoring of the terminal by Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) ... projected to cost approximately $185 million."
The implementation of the new security arrangements was influenced by new IMO ISPS Code stipulations by the United States government in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. This forced the government to subsequently approve a $1.2-billion security programme to enhance security at the island's four major international cargo and cruise ports to comply with US anti-terrorism measures.
In the meantime, Mr. Pickersgill announced that there were plans to construct a new three-storey administrative building at the Kingston Container Terminal, as well as maintain and replace beacons in the Kingston Harbour to properly outline access channels.
There are also plans to pave lands in the Montego Bay Freeport and to construct a Breasting Dolphin at Berth two at a cost of $68 million, to improve the safety of vessels during berthing operations.
Mr. Pickersgill said the warehouse located at Berth 11 at the Kingston Container Terminal will be refurbished at a cost $26 million to accommodate customs officers and facilitate the stripping of containers.
