The Jamaican Information Service quoted Mr Karl Samuda industry minister of Jamaica as saying that contingent on stakeholder compliance with the conditions set out by the ministry, scrap metal trade will resume on July 15th 2008.
In June, Mr Samuda inked a ministerial order prohibiting the export of scrap metal, stating at the time the prohibition became necessary in order to confront illegal activities that pose a major threat to the economic development of the country and the disruption of essential services.
The minister said that "We can not be in an industry at any cost. You can not deface the country, to say nothing of the stolen infrastructure.”
He pointed out that not all stakeholders would be in a position to commence trading on July 15th 2008, as only 19 of the 63 traders had met the stipulated criteria when he met with them recently,.
According to figures provided by the Jamaica Exporters' Association, scrap metal export revenues expanded from USD 13.3 million in 2005 to USD 99.6 million in 2006.
