Gov't backs Tufton on scrap metal ban
Published:Thursday | July 28, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter
The Government is putting its weight behind industry, investment and commerce minister Dr Christopher Tufton, who is facing a backlash in the wake of the decision to indefinitely close the scrap metal industry.
One of the most strident critics of the decision has been Karl Samuda, who held the portfolio for more than three years until he was replaced by Tufton just a month ago.
According to Samuda, his opinion was not sought before the decision was made to shut down the industry and plans put in place during his tenure for the establishment of a mechanism to weed out nefarious scrap metal operators were discarded after Tufton took over the ministry.
Yesterday, minister with responsibility for information Daryl Vaz rushed to the defence of his colleague, declaring that the decision to shut down the industry was taken by the Cabinet after much deliberation.
Fully briefed
While not naming Samuda, Vaz told the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing that the Cabinet considered plans that were on the table before Tufton assumed control of the industry, investment and commerce ministry.
"This decision that was taken on Monday had the input of a proposal from the Customs Department ... and also the permanent secretary in the ministry of investment and commerce who was the same permanent secretary who served the former minister," Vaz declared.
"And, therefore, we were fully briefed on all the proposals and recommendations that were there, not only since Minister Tufton took over, but previously, and I am again making the statement very clear that those were taken into consideration and the Government stands by its decision," added Vaz.
He argued that the scrap metal trade is doing Jamaica more harm than good and the decision was in the best interest of the country.
"The fact of the matter is that we have got to the stage where we are vandalising private property and government property and this is having a serious impact on the infrastructure of the country," Vaz said.
No better option
He told journalists that the Government was aware that the decision to shut down the industry would hurt some persons economically.
However, Vaz argued that there was no better option, in a seeming reference to Samuda's claim that he had left an almost complete proposal to clean up the scrap metal industry when he was booted from the Cabinet.
"A plan was left in place which provided for the establishment of a central site from which all scrap metal to be exported would be stored and placed on display for a minimum of 10 days," Samuda told The Gleaner hours after the decision to close the industry was announced on Tuesday.
"This site would be under the direct supervision and monitoring of the police and the customs officials," said Samuda as he argued that this would remove the rogue traders who were buying the stolen items.
While shying away from a direct comment on the Samuda plan, Vaz said the Government had tried everything to avoid shutting down the industry.
"This matter has been on the table and under review for several months, if not going into years," Vaz said as he pointed to the suspension of the trade and the implementation of new rules under Samuda.
"It is very clear that what has happened subsequent to that ... is that it is getting worse, not better, in terms of what is happening and I think it boils down simply to the fact that we have exhausted legitimate scrap that was available and that has led to the theft of government and private property."