File - A heap of scrap metals await sorting near the entrance to the Riverton Landfill in Riverton City, Kingston, on Thursday, November 15, 2007.

Recent theft make it difficult for law abiding scrap-metal traders

Members of the Scrap Metal Federation of Jamaica say they are being unfairly labelled as wrong-doers based on the number of cases of scrap metal theft that have been recently reported.

In a release sent to THE STAR, the Federation said the actions of "unknown perpetrators make it difficult for the law-abiding scrap-metal traders to make a living without being unfairly accused of wrong doing."

The release said the Federation condemns all acts of theft or illeg-ality and in order to help lift the negative stigma attached to the industry and to possibly lift the ban on exports that was recently placed by the Ministry of Industry and Com-merce, it is offering a $300,000 reward to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and charge of anyone involved in the recent acts of theft.

The organization said it was encouraging anyone with information about scrap-metal thefts to assist the authorities in their investigations.

unscrupulous persons

"The 26 members of this Federation assure all Jamaica that we will not facilitate the destruction of any aspect of the country's infrastructure by purchasing contraband from unscrupulous persons. We also encourage the other licensed exporters who are not members of this Federation to do the same. We state loudly and clearly to all persons involved in the illegal acquisition of metals; we will not buy it," the release stated.

It further lashed out against what it described as the "generalized accusation of all scrap-metal dealers" and the punishment of an entire industry for the actions of unscrupulous persons and said this approach would not help in bringing to justice those who are truly responsible

The organization said its goal was to help turn refuse into value and by doing so, to clean up the environment. It said the Federation is made up of hard working persons who have invested money and energy into creating jobs for many persons.

The decision by the government was made in the wake of the theft of millions of dollars worth of infrastructure across the island. In one recent case at the Colbeck irrigation pumping station in St Catherine, thieves vandalised critical agricul-tural equipment with losses estimated at some $5 million. Several stands from the stadium at the G.C. Foster College in St Catherine were also stolen recently.