CARICOM intensifies call for halt of hazardous waste shipment via Caribbean Sea

Dec 30, 2012 News

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Chairman, the Hon Dr. Kenny Anthony, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, has reiterated and intensified calls for a halt to the shipment of hazardous waste through the Caribbean Sea, while noting the danger the practice pose to the livelihood of persons living within the region.

CARICOM Chairman, St. Lucian Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Kenny Anthony

The St. Lucian leader made the call last Friday before the transshipment of Vitrified High Level Waste from the United Kingdom (UK) destined for Japan via the Caribbean Sea.
Minister Anthony said that it had come to the attention of CARICOM that a new shipment of Vitrified High Level Waste would soon leave the UK for Japan through the Caribbean Sea.
“It is with gravest concern that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) reiterates and intensifies its opposition to the passage of shipments of High Level Waste through the Caribbean Sea,” Minister Anthony expressed.
The CARICOM Chairman noted that the Caribbean Sea constitutes not only a part of the way of life of the Caribbean people but also a principal source of livelihood and socio-economic activity.
“The United Kingdom’s imminent shipment of radioactive waste follows fourteen such shipments to date, each of which has been strenuously objected to by CARICOM Heads of Government, Caribbean business communities and civil society. In this regard, the Region is particularly disappointed by the continued disregard shown by the United Kingdom for the objections to such shipments given the historical relations which the Caribbean shares with the United Kingdom,” Prime Minister Anthony said in his statement.
The Caribbean is ranked one of the most travelled to tourist destinations in the world. As one of the region’s main sellers, tourism generates large sums of money and the Caribbean Sea which washes the shores of most of those nations is valuable for the continued growth of the industry.
The body of water also servers various other purposes and is home to vast aquatic life. A waste mishap in the Caribbean Sea would prove disastrous for the nations it surrounds.