…after huge Belgian cocaine bust
…Association urges Government to reopen industry now
Members of the Guyana Metal Recyclers’ Association (GMRA) are concerned that the current halt on the scrap metal trade will significantly hamper their ability to make a living and have called on the Government not to punish the industry for rouge acts of trafficking that continue to tarnish the trade.
In a Letter to the Editor, General Secretary of the GMRA, Stephen Bourne, wrote of the plight that scrap metal traders faces, noting that these and other challenges have progressed for years. He said that the GMRA met with Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Waldron and Permanent Secretary, Sharon Roopchand-Edwards on November 17, 2020, and were given the assurance that the trade would be reopened “no later than four weeks”.
However, the Association is urging the urgent reopening of the trade rather than later, as for many, making a living to provide for themselves and families depend on it.
“In light of the alleged recent discovery of cocaine found in a scrap metal container at the port of Antwerp, Belgium. The members of the Guyana Metal Recyclers’ Association would like to plea with our government to not let this incident negatively affect all scrap metal exporters, since the Guyana Metal Recyclers’ activity as it does not reflect the ambitions, goals and standards set by scrap metal exporters,” Bourne stated.
“For most of us, the proceeds from scrap metal export represents our only source of income and it is how we are able to provide for our families and same for the hundreds of persons employed within the scrap metal industry.”
On November 5, Belgian police seized 11.5 tons of cocaine from Guyana, on the northeastern coast of South America which was found in a container of scrap metal. It was dubbed by federal prosecutors as the “largest overseas drug bust ever” with a street value of €900 million or approximately GYD $222B.
The Guyana Metal Recyclers’ Association said that, over the years, the scrap metal industry has been tarnished by the act of criminals and it is high time that honest operators stop paying the price for the dishonest.
The General Secretary iterated: “We are kindly asking that our government find it in their heart to urgently address our dire concerns by having systems put in place that will allow for the immediate resumption of the scrap metal trade in the given timeline.”
