The Caribbean Community has been advised that yet another shipment of hazardous waste is soon to leave Europe for Japan.

Heads of Government once again reiterate their unwavering opposition and that of the people of the Region to the choice of the Caribbean Sea as the preferred route for the transhipment of highly toxic nuclear materials.

The expressed position adopted by Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community was endorsed in a public statement by the Heads of State and Government of the Association of Caribbean States at their meeting in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 1999 in which they too rejected the continuous use of the Caribbean Sea "for the transport of nuclear and toxic waste."

Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community are now even more concerned about these shipments, having regard to recent accidents at Japanese nuclear facilities. We are aware of the assurances which have been offered by the governments concerned that there is no danger to the Caribbean Sea since the ships are especially built for the transportation of nuclear waste and no adverse condition could cause a spill to take place. The Japanese people were given equally firm assurances that the Tsuruga and Tokai facilities were safe. Tsuruga and Tokai are now realities fresh in the minds of the governments and people of this Region.

Heads of Government once again request the Governments of France, Japan and the United Kingdom to respect the wishes of the people of the Caribbean to preserve the Caribbean Sea as a viable economic and social asset for future generations.

They reiterate their pledge made at Port-of-Spain in July 1999, "to take all necessary steps to protect their people and the fragile ecology of the Caribbean Sea from this highly dangerous threat."

(22 December 1999)