The Trinidad and Tobago Scrap Iron Dealers’ Association (TTSIDA) is calling on the Commissioner of Police to enforce the Scrap Metal Act.
The call was made during a media conference on Tuesday as the Association marked the third anniversary of the industry’s shutdown.
According to the President of the Trinidad and Tobago Scrap Iron Dealers’ Association, Allan Ferguson, although the former government called for the shutdown of the industry three years ago due to the increasing theft of copper, there continues to be high levels of exportation from individual entities.
“When they shut down the industry, you know they shut it down because people was thieving copper so they had was to do something they say to stop the copper theft because they need to do something. Well, I want to report to Trinidad and Tobago today that the copper, we still have a big problem with it. The players who caused the problem in the industry, they still doing what they were doing in 2022.”
Mr. Ferguson said although previous discussions were held between the Association and the government to maintain the industry, plans fell through. This, he noted, still remains a considerable loss for members of the industry who are still reeling as a result.
“Now the industry, while it had some ills in it, the industry was going very good. We was continue going along with improving our members was buying equipment and doing a lot and if you watch the statistics, you would have seen the Port of Port of Spain and Point Lisas, we was moving the most material out of the two port meaning the most containers so you would have had a good idea that this industry was doing very good. So it wasn’t necessary to shut down this industry three years ago.”
TTSIDA President said if immediate action is not taken to enforce the law, it could lead to unfortunate results for the future of copper trade and production within the country.
He is pleading for the matter to be addressed by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and has proposed a meeting with the Commissioner of Police to address the ongoing illegal exportation of copper.