Scanners for TT ports

GOVERNMENT will acquire hi-tech scanners for Trinidad and Tobago’s major maritime ports as part of its ongoing strategies in the war against crime. TT Manufacturers Association (TTMA) president Paul Quesnel told Newsday yesterday that this was the assurance given to him recently by Works and Transport Minister, Colm Imbert, and Junior Finance Minister, Conrad Enill. Noting that stemming the flow of illegal guns and drugs into the country was critical to dealing with TT’s crime problems, Quesnel said it was clear that criminals would not import guns and drugs into the country only “by pirogue” but could target the ports of Port-of-Spain and Point Lisas to conduct their nefarious trade.

While stating that the TTMA had no hard evidence that guns or drugs are flowing through those ports unchecked, Quesnel said it is not far-fetched to believe that such contraband could be placed in containers or barrels. He added that these were some of the concerns he expressed to the ministers at their recent meeting and suggested that the presence of scanners on the ports could plug this particular loophole. Quesnel said the ministers assured him that steps would be taken to acquire the scanners and there would be follow-up meetings to iron out the details. He said there were several sources from which scanners could be purchased and noted that the Jamaican government acquired such technology from either the United States or Canada for its ports.

Asked if the presence of scanners at the nation’s ports was part of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, which TT became a signatory to in July 2004, Quesnel said the scanners were an entirely different issue as far as port security was concerned. In terms of additional security measures at the ports, Quesnel suggested that increasing the complement of customs officers who are involved in the inspection of cargo would also help the situation. In response to similar concerns expressed earlier this year by Plipdeco chairman Cmdr Kayam Mohammed, former works and transport minister Franklin Khan said Government would consider assisting entities such as Plipdeco with funding arrangements regarding the purchase of scanning equipment for the ports. Khan added that Government viewed security at the nation’s ports of entry as a matter of paramount importance.