The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

HEALTH Minister Dr Perry Gomez yesterday announced a new policy concerning imports as the government works to develop a radio-nuclear detection and management plan.

The government spent just over $80,000 to become a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in November, according to Dr Gomez, who addressed concerns of unwanted radiation exposure in the House of Assembly yesterday.

He added that an IAEA nuclear security officer held meetings with relevant officers in the Department of Customs, Environmental Health Services, the Port Authority as well as the Ministries of Health and National Security and the Airport Authority this month.

“The Ministry of Health,” said Dr Gomez, “has determined that no level of radiation found in imported items is acceptable and will communicate this to importers.

“Imported products that are at greatest risk from elevated levels of radiation emission will be identified and items found emitting radiation will be returned to the primary source where the imported product originated.”

Last month, Jamaican customs authorities reported “higher-than-normal” levels of radiation in two shipments from Japan.

The Jamaica Customs Agency has reportedly been on “high alert” since the March 2011 earthquake-triggered meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan.

Radiation checks in Jamaica have been facilitated through a partnership with the United States Department of Energy, whose officials were in the Bahamas last month to review a radiation detection programme here.

The US Department of Energy and the Bahamas Ministry of Finance signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2004 to implement the Megaports Initiative at the Freeport Container Port.

The initiative provides technical support to strengthen the capabilities of countries to deter, detect, and interdict illicit trafficking of special nuclear and other radioactive materials at international border crossings, including border checkpoints, airports and seaports, internal locations and other controlled land and maritime borders, according to its website.

The Freeport Container Port has not responded to Tribune information requests on its detection programme. According to reports, the initiative became operational in 2006.

Yesterday, Dr Gomez confirmed that there has been ongoing monitoring at the transshipment hub in Grand Bahama.

Dr Gomez advised that the country is developing core capacities with the assistance of the IAEA and the Pan American Health Organization “to respond to public health threats and public health emergencies caused by radiation and chemical agents.”

“In an effort,” said Dr Gomez, “to identify elevated levels of radiation emission at the ports of entry and from other imports, the Ministries of Health, Environment, and the Department of Customs will request import certificates from importing operatives that documents levels of radiation, if any, of imported goods.”

With technical support from the IAEA, Dr Gomez added that the ministries will order portable equipment to detect levels of radiation emissions on imports.