By Sue-Ann Wayow
IMMEDIATE action is going to be taken by the Trinidad and Tobago Scrap Iron Dealers Association (TTSIDA) to stop the purchase of stolen copper wire and other materials.
These include registration for public identification as a scrap iron dealer and collectors (van men) which will begin rolling out from Saturday and will continue for the next month.
TTISDA’s president Allan Ferguson at a press conference held at Signature Hall, Chaguanas, called on members of the association to step up to save their industry.
Anyone who may have a problem with the registration and identification steps that will be taken may be one who was contributing to the problem, he said.
He said there will be no condoning of attack on government or private property.
While emphasising that only a few dealers were purchasing stolen material, he said, the whole industry that feeds thousands was now in jeopardy due to the actions of a few.
Approximately 125 members are part of TTSIDA with only six large scrap yards, Ferguson said.
Ferguson and members of the TTSIDA met with Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, Minister of Trade and Industry, Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds and Energy Minister Stuart Young who will head a committee to deal with the increasing copper theft in the country on Wednesday.
Ferguson thanked Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley for allowing the meeting and all the ministers who attended, saying the meeting was fruitful but immediate action was needed even before the authorities start to act.
“I have absolutely no problem taking immediate action with things taking place within our industry,” Ferguson said.
He lashed out at the individuals who may be purchasing stolen items.
“I am telling you today, if you don’t buss a hole in that pool to let that water drain out because you continue throwing all kinds of thing in that pool, if you do not drain out that pool, we will come and bail it out and when the pool is bailed out, everything will expose to the authorities,” Ferguson said.
He continued, “You causing a lot of problems in this industry. A lot of you all know that stolen stuff is coming to your yard and you are still purchasing it. You don’t care about this industry.”
Ferguson warned, “If you don’t straighten out yourself you will have to ship out.”
Unlike other state companies that were shut down including Petrotrin, members of the industry had nothing to collect from Government if it reached to that point, he said.
Recommendations
TTSIDA’s former secretary Kenny Plaza outlined the measures that he said would be temporary but eventually incorporated into law.
Three categories would be affected: collectors, dealers and local and foreign exporters.
“Everyone needs to be registered with the association as of now,” Plaza said.
The measures include:
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A sensitisation campaign for both personnel in the industry and the public. This will be done with community police in certain areas so the population can know who exactly the legit scrap collectors were. It will consist of town hall meetings and social media notices.
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A listing of items of special interest has been identified in the metal categories split into two categories–ferrous and non-ferrous. Non-ferrous consist of aluminium, copper and brass. Ferrous consist of metal items such as gates and fencing, manhole covers, metal doors. Plaza said state companies have complained several times about theft of those materials and oil companies have raised issued with theft of compressors and pumps.
Plaza said, “Anytime whether a scrap iron collector or a dealer sees these items of interest, it is a red flag. This will now tell the dealer, was these items obtained legally and there will be extensive proof needed to prove that it was obtained legally.”
More measures:
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All scrap iron collectors must be registered by the association and publicly identifiable by the TTSIDA sticker. They must submit to the scrap yard dealer a complete van collector’s form with a list of all items in the specified list. The form will have personal details, a description and quantity of the items involved, the location obtained from and if any, the cost to acquire them. Information will also be required about the person from whom the items were obtained.
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The materials in transit must be available for inspection at any time by the TTPS, other licensing authorities and by extension the TTSIDA.
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All scrap iron dealers should be registered with TTSIDA and given registration numbers in numerical order.
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All dealers are required to erect public and visible signs bearing the dealers registration numbers.
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They are also required to display their registration certification at all times at their business places along with the Government licence.
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They are also required to fill out the forms detailing the items collected and the items kept for seven days to allow for validation. These forms should be available for inspection at any time by the TTPS.
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Should theft be detected, the registered TTSIDA dealer must contact the nearest police station, surrender the goods to the authority and provide the TTPS with all details of the collector.
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Any dealer or collector found harnessing stolen material will face the full consequences of the law.
