BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Chairman of the Caribbean Community CARICOM, Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis has called for an immediate halt to the transit of radioactive material through the Caribbean Sea; a practice he said is “unacceptable and injurious.”
In a statement condemning the practice, Dr. Denzil Douglas said that it has become intolerable to the governments and people of the Caribbean, as it compromises its rich but fragile ecosystem, and puts at risk “the very existence of the People of the Caribbean of the Region.”
The call to halt the transit of the waste through the Caribbean Sea has come in the wake of a new shipment of Vitrified High Level Waste that will leave the United Kingdom, this week, for Japan through the Caribbean.
Dr. Douglas said that CARICOM remains immutable in its opposition to the passage of shipments of such material through the Caribbean Sea, which is recognised by the United Nations as a Special Area in the context of Sustainable Development.
He pointed out that the environmental, socio-economic and cultural identity of CARICOM is dependent on the integrity of the Sea from which the Region takes its name.
“ CARICOM vehemently condemns as unacceptable and injurious, the practice by the United Kingdom, France and Japan of transporting hazardous waste through the Caribbean Sea, thus risking the very existence of the People of the Caribbean. This ongoing practice is intolerable to the People and Governments of CARICOM,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
He said the Community urges all those involved in making these shipments, to halt them immediately.
