Above: Grenada (CJ Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

After recent reports indicated that thieves had been pilfering Grenada’s cultural sites to obtain scrap metal to sell, the country’s scrap metal dealers have now agreed to allow police and customs officers to be present while their containers are packed for shipment.

The reports have included the apparent theft of copper pots and cannons from cultural heritage sites.

The decision followed a meeting this week between government officials and Grenadian scrap metal dealers to discus issues affecting the trade.

The consensus was that the presence of officers was needed to ensure that cultural artifacts and stolen items do not leave the country.

The meeting was attended by scrap metal dealers and Environment and Foreign Trade Minister Glynis Roberts, who said it was important for the Ministry to bring everyone on board to discuss the issues.

“As we try to clean up the environment, which is a welcomed move, we also need to preserve and conserve what is important to us,” Roberts said.

The sides also discussed reports of removal of metal objects from the homes of Grenadians, which have included theft of copper cables.

One suggestion at the talks was to form an association of scrap metal dealers and suppliers, with the idea that a formal association would add accountability to the industry.