Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

PERSONS NOW involved in the lucrative multimillion-dollar scrap metal trade will shortly be dealt a severe blow as Government has announced an immediate cessation of the export.

Karl Samuda, Minister of Industry and Commerce, told Parliament yesterday that the theft of metals for export has reached "crisis proportions and can no longer be allowed to continue".

Addressing the House of Representatives, Mr. Samuda said the Chief Parliamentary Council has prepared a draft order prohibiting the export.

I will sign it tomorrow

"I expect that I will sign it tomorrow (today) so that it can be gazetted immediately," he said.

"The order will stop all exports of scrap metal until a complete assessment of the trade is undertaken."

When the industry is regulated, Mr. Samuda said, the exporters of scrap metal would require a licence to export such products. He also said the police would be asked to monitor the industry and exporters would have to show proof of purchase of metals in their position.

The Jamaica Exporters Association said it exported US$99.6 million in scrap metals last year, up from US$13.3 million in 2005.

Manhole covers, bridge structures and railway lines are among the many sources of metals targeted by criminals involved in the scrap metal trade.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com