Prime Minister, P. J.  Patterson has announced that it the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard will assume responsibility for diving under cargo vessels in search of contraband. including narcotics and illegal guns and ammunition, at Kingston’s container terminal. Previously civilian divers were employed to do the diving.

Mr. Patterson was speaking last week at the official opening of phase three of the Kingston Transhipment Terminal at Gordon Cay in Kingston.   The expansion of the terminal was completed at a cost of US$ 102 million.   An additional 542 metres of berth space has been created at the port, with 14 hectares of storage area.

The Prime Minister said that the government was constantly upgrading security system at all ports of entry, in an effort to prevent the importation of illegal guns, drugs and ammunition. He stressed that Jamaica was at risk of destroying all that it had achieved over the years, if systems were not in place to ensure absolute and uncomprornised security at all ports.

He told port workers and security personnel, that no amount of ill-gotten rewards could justify turning a blind eye to the movement of contraband through the country’s ports.   He stressed that in addition to security measures already in place, the Port authority will shortly install a comprehensive camera system for the inspection of cargo and satellite and computer tracking system for containers.

The Prime Minister stressed that these measures were being undertaken in an effort to beat the criminal elements, have become more sophisticated and advanced in their methods. 

Continuing, Prime Minister Patterson said that the government was committed to the development of the Port of Kingston and had initiated several policies and programmes to proceed toward that objective, including the implementation of the National Industry Policy and new Shipping Act.   He said Jamaica was ready to into partnership with the international community, to explore the commercial development of the support services and sub sectors associated with the industry.   Areas of emphasis will include expansion of the cruise shipping sector, international dry-docking, ship registry, yachting and marina development.