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| Wednesday, June 30, 2004 JLA among 14 ports certified for trading with USA. Fourteen of Jamaica's ports have been certified by the government, making it possible for them to continue serving as conduits for trade to the USA, under stricter anti-drug and anti-terrorism laws imposed by America. Specifically, the certificates of Compliance of Port Facilities are issued under the International Code for the Security of Ships and of Port Facility (ISPS code). The announcement of the certification came at a luncheon hosted by the Port Authority of Jamaica yesterday. The luncheon was addressed by US ambassador to Jamaica, Sue Cobb. According to a press statement from the port authority, the ports certified are: . APM Terminals (Jamaica) Limited, . Kingston Wharves Limited, . JAMALCO Clarendon Alumina Works - Rocky Point Port, . Kaiser Jamaica Bauxite Company - Port Road, . Jamaica Livestock Association Limited, . Glencore Alumina (Jamaica) Limited - Port Esquivel, . Port of Montego Bay, . Ocho Rios Cruise Ship Pier, . Reynolds Pier, . Boundbrook Wharf, . Shell Company (WI) Limited, . Alumina Partners of Jamaica - Alpart Port Kaiser, Antilles Chemical Company, . Petrojam Limited. Transport and works minister Robert Pickersgill said that this certification was necessary as the US Port and Maritime Security Act now required ports of countries trading with the US to be certified and audited. These audits, he said, had to be in accordance with specified security standards as part of the increased global attention to security at seaports and airports in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in America. Additionally, the International Maritime Organisation will begin to enforce its security standards (known as the ISPS code) for the world's ports starting in July. Pickersgill congratulated the Port Authority of Jamaica for its ongoing programme to restructure the security systems in the ports of Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio and other smaller ports around the island. As part of Jamaica's efforts at stemming smuggling at its ports, five VACIS Mobile Cobalt 60 Gamma Ray container inspection systems have been installed at the Port of Kingston. These units are designed to facilitate the comprehensive inspection of containers and cargo packages to prevent the smuggling of weapons, explosives, drugs and other contraband at the island's major ports. In addition, the Port Authority has installed a closed-circuit TV system for round-the-clock surveillance and an access control system to electronically control and regulate access to all major ports. | ||||||
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