Toxic shipment coming

Publication: Weekend Nation
Date: Fri, Aug 8, 1997
Page: 16
Byline: Terry Ally

THE LATEST highly radioactive shipment of nuclear waste transiting the region, is coming through with the full knowledge of CARICOM governments, says one of the companies involved in the shipment.

International Transport Coordinator of British Nuclear Fuel (BNFL), Gavin Carter, told the Weekend Nation that the governments were informed during the 8th Intercessional Meeting of Caricom in Antigua earlier this year.

His response comes as Greenpeace called on Caribbean Governments to block the shipment, travelling on board the Pacific Pintail which will exit the Panama Canal tomorrow on the way to Europe.

"Spent nuclear fuel shipments pose multiple environmental and security risks and must be halted," said Tom Clements of Greenpeace. "We call on Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and CARICOM to demand a halt to the transport of such dangerous nuclear materials through the Caribbean Sea."

Two containers are bound for Sellafield, Britain and another two for Cogema, France.

Even though Caricom issued a statement stating its opposition to all hazardous shipments through the region, Carter said when they spoke with the governments separately and together, the "general impression we've had is that they were satisfied that the shipments were safe but concerned about the perception that the shipments were unsafe."

There was no immediate response from the Caricom Secretariat.

Asked if Caricom was determined that they do not want such shipments transiting the Caribbean would British Nuclear Fuel ignore that, Carter said the matter was much bigger because all the other shipments of oil, gas and other hazardous materials would have to be considered.

"An important thing as a shipping company is that we maintain safety. We not only meet those standards but exceed them."