The former Jamaican Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Karl Samuda has stated that he is disappointed with a recent government decision to impose a ban on scrap metal imports in the country, claiming that the ban undoes all of the work that he put into the industry when he took office in 2007.

He expressed regret that plans put in place to weed out unscrupulous scrap metal operators had simply been pushed aside for a countrywide ban on imports instead. While he claims to understand the high level of frustration felt by the victims of scrap metal thieves, he also stated that he left behind a list of suspected illegal scrap metal merchants before leaving office two months ago.

He commented “We are literally surrendering to the rogue elements within the industry. I am, in fact, disappointed that the decision made has resulted in a total ban.

“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. This site would be under the direct supervision and monitoring of the police and the customs officials.”