|
|
|
 |
|
|
U.S. Virgin Islands legislator calls new security rules 'unreasonable' for small island nations
by AP
Posted: Aug 27, 2004 21:41 UTC
|
ROSEAU (AP) - A U.S. Virgin Islands senator said new port security standards are making it more difficult for small island nations to trade with the United States.
Sen. David Jones, who was born in Dominica, said during a visit Thursday night that the island nation's tourism industry is facing serious challenges since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, "with the security issues that the United States has embarked upon."
"I think its unreasonable," said Jones, the U.S. Virgin Islands senate president, addressing the annual meeting of the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association.
Under new international port standards that took effect July 1, ports are required to have a variety of new security measures in place. If the United States turns away or performs lengthy inspections on ships from noncompliant ports, some experts predict that could deliver a blow to the estimated $20 billion in U.S.-Caribbean trade each year.
Both cargo and cruise ships are affected. Ships docking in the United States now have to produce documents showing the last 10 ports visited comply with the rules.
Authorities in Dominica have been forced to spend more than US$3 million to comply with the new rules designed to prevent terrorism or sabotage.
Jones said "because of the insecurity of the United States they are now trying to disrupt the sovereignty" of countries such as Dominica.
(ec-imj)
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
You may bookmark this web page, print it or e-mail it to
a friend in accordance with the fair-use provisions of
copyright laws. The material is intended solely for the use
of the individual user.
Archiving, redistribution, or republication of this
material
on other terms, in any medium, requires the express
written permission of the author or publication and the
notification of the editors of Caribseek News. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
