Guyana currently unable to address radiation emissions

Mar 07, 2014 News

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– Cabinet approved a proposal last Feb. – Environment Minister

By Zena Henry
Guyana is currently unable to manage or address any form of radiation emission.

According to Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud, “national standards and limits for radiation emission have not been developed in Guyana, but rather, guidance is sought from the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).”
Guyana, he said, “has not signed on to any international, multilateral or bilateral agreements that address radiation either as a contaminant or as an emission in health facilities. There exist no national policy documents or guidelines to address any such issues.  There is currently no legislation specifically designed to address the protection of Guyana’s environment from radioactive materials if and/or when emitted into the environment.”
Minister Persaud was on Wednesday answering questions on the country’s preparedness to deal with the environmental issue in light of reports which stated that radioactive vehicles were being imported from Japan and possibly making their way to Guyana’s shores.
The Minister admitted that there is not much in place to tackle the environmental issue, but recalled that in February last, Cabinet approved a ‘management of radiation emissions’ proposal which was forwarded by his Ministry. He pointed out that the proposal was developed subsequent to the interception of used motor vehicle parts with elevated radiation levels, destined for Guyana, by Jamaica Customs Authority in December 2013.
“The proposal put into perspective the existing situation as it relates to radiation emission management in Guyana, and proposed recommendations for radiation emission management. It aims to facilitate the platform for discussions at various levels towards the development of a Policy and Legislation to address radiation emissions in Guyana and to provide an opportunity for Guyana to improve and maintain the quality of the environment and limits on the release of radiation into the environment.”

For the short-term, the proposal recommends that the Ministry of Health be considered the focal point for the management of radiation emission in Guyana, since the existence of the Health Facility Licensing Act, 2007, already provides a basis for radiation management, through outlining specific measures to protect people from radiation.
It was further emphasized that there is a need for specialized equipment which can detect hazardous radiation levels when cargo is being imported, and that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and importers of vehicles and parts could put mechanisms in place to ensure that all vehicles/materials being imported are free from radioactive contamination.
For the long term, it was recommended that, “a needs assessment be conducted to determine the current status of radioactive material/radiation emission, and measures for management in Guyana, that Policy and Legislation be developed for the management of radiation emissions, and the need to establish a Technical Committee comprising the different stakeholder sectors, to plan for the formulation of standards and setting limits for radiation emissions.”
Though there is uncertainty as to how soon work on this proposal will kick off, it was advised that locals involved in vehicle importation and agencies that deal with same take the necessary precaution.
Commissioner General of the GRA Khurshid Sattaur told Kaieteur News yesterday that a more proactive approach must be taken towards the issue. He said that he had written the Natural Resources Minister in a bid to make his concerns on the matter known and to further highlight not only the need for detection equipment, but mechanisms to be put in place where agencies could have an idea, or be alert on the issue beforehand. He said he also reiterated a call for the collaboration of agencies.
Sattaur also mentioned receiving a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said to be from the Japanese government, warning about the possibility of contaminated vehicles being exported and advising that the importing country take additional precaution – apart from that being taken in Japan – to detect vehicles with unsafe radiation levels.

It was already established that GRA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and vehicle importers are in no position to detect vehicles with high levels of radiation. The EPA had told this publication that it had no equipment to detect varying levels of radiation, while several vehicle importers said that they too are unable to do so, and that they were depending on exporters to sell them safe motor vehicles.
The problem of radiation was highlighted following the Fukushima nuclear plant fallout in Japan in 2011, which was caused by a massive earthquake that triggered a tsunami causing widespread devastation in the East Asian country.

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