Parliament

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Minister of Industry, Investment, and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda

Industry, Investment, and Commerce Minister, Karl Samuda is warning of stiffer penalties for breaches of the regulations governing Jamaica's scrap metal trade.

Delivering the opening presentation in the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 13, Mr. Samuda issued this warning against the background of what he said was the "re-emergence of rascals who steal property for the purpose of exporting scrap metal."

The local scrap metal industry came under scrutiny late last year after reports surfaced of unprecedented levels of theft, which were deemed to constitute a major economic loss to the country. While the export of scrap metal reportedly earned the country some US$13.3 million in 2005, and US$99.5 million in 2006, the Ministry of Industry, Investment, and Commerce was forced to suspend all exports in October 2007 in order to curb the theft of property.

Mr. Samuda told the House that while there was marked improvement in industry operations, there has been a resurgence of property theft, and warned of strong action against those culpable.

"The (current) penalties for breaches under the (scrap metal) regulations include fines, and those who are licensed to trade will be punished for any misdeeds. Stiffer penalties are going to be introduced, the regulations will be amended to provide an increase in fines as a deterrent for the actions of these dishonest operators," the Minister informed.

He also warned that traders found in possession of metal, stolen or otherwise, for which they could not legitimately account, would have their licence permanently revoked. Mr. Samuda also advised that should the complaints continue, then the law would take its course.

"We have already set in train a mechanism by which we will be hiring private security guards, working with the police and customs, to respond to reports of theft. The moment we arrive at a stage where we are convinced that this practice is not being brought to an end quickly enough, I will shut down that industry again, and I will shut it down until every single scrap metal dealer in this country has his or her place searched and confirmed that there is no stolen metal in it," the Minister emphasised.

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