Government of Antigua and Barbuda

Prime Minister's Office
St. John's Antigua, W.I.


PRESS RELEASE

CARICOM CHAIRMAN LESTER BIRD PROTESTS
AGAINST POSSIBLE NUCLEAR WASTE SHIPMENT
THROUGH THE CARIBBEAN


      CARICOM Chairman, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister, Lester
Bird, says that he is encouraging CARICOM Governments to make the
strongest protest to the Governments of France, Japan and Britain
over a shipment of highly radioactive plutonium waste planned
over the next few weeks.


      Mr. Bird says that because of the secretive way in which the
French and Japanese are dealing with the matter, it is not yet
certain that the shipment from the French port of Cherbourg to
Japan will be made through the Caribbean but he wants to ensure
that it isn't.


      The CARICOM Chairman says that shipment is expected to be
carried by a British ship operated by the firm, Pacific Nuclear
Transport Limited, and the material is deadly.


      Mr. Bird says that a serious accident could result in
significant radioactive contamination of the environment. In
its worst case, the Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister says,
"communities could face mass evacuations with fisheries,
agriculture and tourism being seriously undermined."


      "This is an unacceptable risk," said Mr. Bird.  He
continued, "The people of the Caribbean must not be exposed to
this serious threat to their environment and their lives.."


      The CARICOM Chairman is also calling the Government of the
United States to take a firm stand on the issue.  He says that
the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands would be as
much at risk as other Caribbean countries.


      The CARICOM Chairman has written to his colleague Heads of
Government and to U.S. President Bill Clinton calling on them to
lodge protests with the French, Japanese and British Governments.

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