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Caricom blasts Suriname's atomic plans
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CARICOM Secretary-General, Edwin Carrington.
Suriname's proposed construction of a nuclear power facility has continued to come in for fierce criticism.
The move could also split members of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) which has traditionally opposed the passage of nuclear waste through its waters.
A ground-breaking ceremony for the smelter and power plant, estimated to cost ($30 million), is reportedly scheduled for August this year. However, up to two weeks ago the issue had not been raised at the level of Caricom. Caricom Secretary-General, Edwin Carrington, said that like many other persons, he had read about the Dutch-speaking country's plans in the media. He added that it had not been discussed at the level of Caricom, nor had anyone brought it to the attention of the 15-state grouping, of which Suriname became a member in 1995. As such, he was not able to comment further. Caricom has, over the years, consistently called on governments guilty of shipping nuclear waste across the Caribbean Sea to stop. Concerns about the ecological fragility of the Caribbean Sea and the well-being of the millions of people who depend on the unique resource for their very existence have been put forward.
Just last year, when Trinidad Prime Minister Patrick Manning was Caricom chair, he openly condemned France's proposed shipment of high-level radioactive waste through the Caribbean Sea.
Published: 22 May 2007
Issue: 1270
