C’bbean vulnerable to bio-terrorism

THE Caribbean does not make biological weapons of mass destruction, but nonetheless remains vulnerable to the use of such items by unscrupulous agents such as terrorists, regional MPs learnt at a workshop held by Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA.)

At the two-day workshop on Monday and Tuesday at the Parliament building in Port of Spain, MPs discussed the banning of biological weapons under the UN Security Council resolution 1540 of 2004.

PGA director Peter Barcroft told Newsday, “Although no countries in Caricom manufacture or intend to manufacture weapons of mass destruction, there is still a risk that certain defence/security items can have a dual use and must be carefully regulated and controlled. In addition, a number of Caricom countries have laboratories where certain viruses/pathogen samples may not be properly secured, leaving them vulnerable to attack by terrorists.”

He said the workshop focused on the Biological Weapons Convention and Resolution 1540, which obliges all UN member states to act to reduce the threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The workshop was chaired by Opposition Senator Wade Mark, in co-operation with PGA staff such as Barcroft and Melissa Verpile, plus experts from the UN, regional disarmament organisations and Caricom. The government of Canada also supported the workshop.

These experts provided the legislators at the workshop with a checklist of important steps that parliamentarians can take to promote implementation of these treaties and resolutions.

Barcroft said, “TT has ratified and implemented already the Biological Weapons Convention, but with recent scientific and technological advances, there is a need to revisit the legislation to ensure its continued adequacy.

"TT has also taken steps to prevent possible abuse of dual use items and is also host to the Caribbean Regional Health Authority (CARPHA), which has state-of-the-art laboratory facilities provided by Canada.”