(Jamaica Observer) Security has been beefed up around Industry Minister Christopher Tufton in the wake of what has been interpreted as threats from disgruntled factions over the ban imposed on the scrap metal industry on Monday, reliable sources told the Observer yesterday.
Government has come under increased fire since Tuesday when it took the decision to impose a total shutdown of the scrap metal trade, citing the high levels of theft resulting in losses totalling millions of dollars to the state and private individuals as well as the disregard for efforts to regulate the industry.
Among the dissenting voices are the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) and the Scrap Metal Federation of Jamaica.
On Thursday, Opposition Spokesperson on Industry Anthony Hylton urged the administration to reconsider its decision to abort the trade in light of international treaty obligations, while the Scrap Metal Federation, in newspaper advertisements, said the Government should not be allowed to trample on the rights of any individual or groups.
However, the federation’s statement that “… today fi mi, tomorrow fi yu” has raised security concerns among officials in Tufton’s ministry as well as other Government officials.
“The Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce notes with concern the innuendos made by the Scrap Metal Federation of Jamaica in an advertisement published in the Observer of Friday, July 29. The ministry notes in particular the federation’s statement ‘Today fi mi… Tomorrow fi yu!’
“While this could have different interpretations, it is necessary for the federation to clarify what exactly is meant by this statement as persons reading the advertisement could interpret it as a personal threat,” the ministry release said last evening.
At the same time, the ministry said it has taken note of the allegation by the federation concerning corrupt public officials and urged the group to provide any such information to the police.
