By Earl Moxam, Senior Gleaner WriterTHE POSTAL Corporation of Jamaica, mindful of the anthrax attacks through the mail in the United States in 2001, says it is taking steps to guard against similar occurrences in Jamaica.
Postmaster-General, Dr. Blossom O'Meally-Nelson, told Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Tuesday that the postal service had already implemented certain security measures, including the tracking and sniffing of packages and mail.
In another measure being pursued, she told the PAC that "every attempt" was being made to procure a scanner for use at the airports to enhance the Corporation's capacity to easily detect possible instruments of terrorism being shipped through the mail.
NETWORKS
A member of the National Council for Aviation Security, Dr. O'Meally-Nelson, told the Committee that she represented the interests of the postal networks across the world on that body.
"We are very much aware of what needs to be done and we will be getting the appropriate international assistance," she said.
Furthermore, she explained that Jamaica is a member of the Postal Security Action Group, an international body that deals with security of the mail, and will be represented at the organisation's upcoming conference next week in Puerto Rico. PAC member, Mike Henry, recalling that high-profile members of the U.S. Congress were targets of the anthrax-laced letters less two years ago, queried whether there were specific measures being put in place to offer protection to Jamaican lawmakers and other members of the society.
Dr. O'Meally Nelson, in response, said that post office staff had received training in detection of noxious substances and other suspicious items.
But the measures were not enough to persuade Mr. Henry as to the efficacy of the approach adopted so far by the Postal Corporation.
"All we need is for some troublesome person to spread some white powder on a batch of your envelopes... and you're going to have a problem," he predicted.
The Postmaster-General would only say that further measures would have to await passage of the Anti-Terrorism Bill, which may have provisions of particular relevance to the work of the postal service.
