Oh scrap! Here we go again!
Published:Monday | December 31, 2012 | 12:00 AM
By Garth A. Rattray
The recent announcement that the ban on the scrap metal industry will be lifted (again) has precipitated renewed and valid fears of widespread illegal scavenging (thievery) and many many millions of dollars in losses. I found myself thinking, 'Oh scrap, here we go again!'
Since 2009, telecom-munications company - LIME, our power supplier - the Jamaica Public Service Company and the National Water Commission announced losses to scrap-metal thieves estimated at $1 billion. Consumers end up paying for that.
There was also illegal scavenging of infrastructure, many public and private safety objects and just about anything metallic (including coffin accessories and holy symbols). Most Jamaicans had little doubt that the country was losing more than it was gaining from the scrap-metal industry.
The thefts were somewhat abstract for me until a very good friend of mine walked out of her home and found herself staring into the dark innards of where her metal manhole cover was the previous evening. The criminals didn't care who or what fell into the gaping and dangerous hole that they left in the front yard. So I too welcomed the ban.
However, the lamentations of people in the scrap-metal industry made me wonder if something could be done to dissuade and minimise theft. The Trade (Scrap Metal) Regulations, 2007 (which was amended in June 2009), painstakingly detailed rules and regulations meant to thwart thievery but, obviously, it was not enough. And, the Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CaPRI) did extensive research before proffering a list of 10 recommendations to assuage the perennial problem of theft.
CaPRI listed two categories of problems facilitating scrap metal theft: 'Lack of enforcement of existing regulations and room for improvement in the governing legislation'. The recommendations were to: Limit the number of dealer sites to a number that is in line with the enforcement capacity of Jamaica Customs and of the police. Make the law explicit that packing can only take place at registered dealer sites. Require that a copy of the seller's identification be taken and kept on record by the purchasing dealer. Prohibit cash payments for scrap metal. Expand the required inspection team to include port security, a police officer from the organised crime unit and a police officer from the nearest station. Require a 'fit for export' form to be presented before export permission is granted. Institute total video surveillance during the packing of containers. Establish online reporting of metal
The latest regulations
The latest measures (listed in a recent Gleaner article) included regulations for exporters, stringent inspections, a five-day online display of collected items for public viewing and restrictions on acceptable material.
I would also like to submit the following for consideration: That all scrap metal collectors (from the little man or woman with a cart going from street to street, to the collectors employed to big companies) be registered and issued with a personal identification card (which must always be displayed).
That all home owners/property owners/businesses wishing to get rid of their scrap metal must call into a central office from where registered collectors are dispatched using a rota system organised according to location and estimated amount of scrap to be collected.
That all collectors coming upon metal junk/refuse (unclaimed) scrap must call the central office (everyone has cellphones) to lay claim to the find and coordinate with an assigned official to meet at the site and verify the find. The authorities can then document the find and authorise collection.
Hopefully we can thwart those unconscionable thieves that make things bad for everyone.
Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com.