Athaliah Reynolds, Staff Reporter

Grantley Stephenson, chairman of Kingston Wharves Ltd, and Audrey McNeil, head of international ship and port security compliance at the Port Authority of Jamaica, discuss issues concerning the nation's port security yesterday during the launch of a five-day Advanced Port Facility Security Officers course at the Knutsford Court Hotel in St Andrew. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Legislation geared towards tighter port security should be on the nation's books by year end, according to Arthur Williams, minister of state in the Ministry of National Security.

"The move is in keeping with the Government's efforts to curtail the illicit trade in drugs and guns and its movement throughout our ports," informed Williams.

He said the aim is to establish a single agency with responsibility for security at the ports and bonded warehouses across the island.

Launch of a five-day course

Williams was speaking yesterday during the launch of a five-day Advanced Port Facility Security Officers course. The course is the result of a memorandum of understanding signed by the Caribbean's leading multi-purpose port, Kingston Wharves Limited, its subsidiary, Security Administrators Limited and the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI).

The course, which begins in September 2009, is the first of its kind in the Caribbean and will form an elective in the Bachelor of Science degree programme in industrial and port security management offered at CMI.

Williams said the courses were quite timely as Jamaica's ports are crucial gateways for the movement of its international commerce. "So anything that is done which will improve their security environment is welcomed good news," he said.

"We are aware that (the) tremendous flow of goods comes with numerous vulnerabilities ranging from smuggling of contraband, the high risk of contamination of legitimate cargo by drug traffickers to terrorist threats," added Williams.

He said drug traffickers are continually adjusting their strategies and so security personnel must always work to be a step ahead.

According to the minister, one major method used by traffickers was the trend of using container cargo trans-shipments or sea drops that are then taken to shore for smuggling via checked luggage, couriers or commercial shipments to move the drug through Jamaica to the United States or Europe.

Closeness to the US

Williams further emphasised the importance of security at local ports due to the nation's closeness to the US.

"With the Caribbean a prime tourist destination, a single incident of terrorism at any one of the region's ports could deal a disastrous and crippling blow to the region's vibrant tourism sector," he said.

He said, in this respect, Jamaica has entered partnerships with countries such as the US, Canada and Europe and taken initiatives to ensure that its port regulations are on par with international standards imposed to reduce the risks of terrorist attacks.

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com