Mobile scanners arrive in TT, Port security to get a boost

Finance Minister Colm Imbert has confirmed the arrival of the first two high/medium energy mobile X-ray scanners in Trinidad.

A media release on Tuesday noted that the scanners arrived in the country on Sunday, November 3.

On October 14, Imbert told the Parliament’s Standing Finance Committee that “the original plan” was for the items to arrive towards the end of August, however, the supplier failed to meet that deadline.

“So what we did being a very proactive ministry, (we) immediately engaged legal counsel and initiated action whereupon the supplier immediately stepped up and has shipped the items,” the minister added.

Tuesday’s media statement explained that in January of this year, the Ministry of Finance signed a contract with Canadian-based Sectus Technologies for the purchase of four high/medium mobile X-ray scanners to be used for inspection of both imports and exports.

“These scanners, which were built in and shipped from Paris, France allow trained operators to view the contents of loaded trucks, containers and vehicles. Its high-performance imagining is expected to play a significant role in improving national security by enhancing the capabilities of the Customs and Excise Division in detecting a wide range of contraband items including weapons,” the release said.

The release said further that the scanners “can see through walls, containers, or vehicle parts to identify hidden objects that would otherwise be difficult to detect.” It said in addition, the scanners will assist the Customs and Excise Division to “more quickly and efficiently scan and inspect vehicles, trucks, or shipping containers which would limit the need to unload or manually inspect items, thereby increasing throughput while still maintaining high security.”

The two scanners that are currently in-country will be strategically deployed at the Port of Port-of-Spain and the Port of Point Lisas following a two to three-week commissioning period which would involve, site acceptance testing and training. The other two scanners have shipped and are expected to arrive in the country by November 24.

The release added that procurement of the four scanners was at a cost of US$12 million which includes maintenance and technician training for Customs and Excise personnel.

The highly anticipated scanners arrived in the country on Sunday. Image credit: Ministry of Finance.

Source: tt.loopnews.com