Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
THE TARDINESS of the Jamaican Government in signing the Container Security Initiative (CSI), offered by the United States Customs, may delay the smooth processing of containerised cargo shipped to the United States from Jamaica.
"Jamaica is not a party to the CSI," a spokesperson at the US Embassy in Kingston, told The Gleaner yesterday.
This was confirmed by Superintendent James Forbes, vice-president in charge of security at the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ). The agreement should have been signed between the Jamaica Customs Department and its counterpart in the United States last year.
Noel Hylton, the president and CEO of the PAJ stressed that it was in the country's best interest to become a part of the CSI.
"We feel it is a very good thing to be a part of the CSI because export from here into the Unites States will be treated as domestic cargo and therefore would not go through the vigorous customs check. Our produce could get to the (U.S.) market much quicker," Mr. Hylton explained.
Woodrow Smith, senior director for Security and Intelligence, at the Ministry of National Security, said he was not familiar with the CSI agreement and referred The Gleaner to Supt. Forbes.
"That has not crossed my desk, I don't know anything about it," commented Mr. Smith, when contacted yesterday.
INCREASED SECURITY
Jamaica is among several countries that were approached by the United States re the CSI. According to a report on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website, the CSI is a programme intended to help increase security for containerised cargo shipped to the U.S. from around the world.
This will allow U.S. Customs officers to work alongside local law enforcement officers at the various ports across the island, a move that could enhance the capability and efficiency of security personnel.
The report on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website further states that the CSI consists of elements such as: Using intelligence and automated information to identify target containers that pose a risk for terrorism and pre-screening those containers that pose a risk at the ports of departure before they arrive at U.S. ports.
