Participants from eight Caribbean territories are here in St. John’s attending a weeklong workshop on nuclear material inventory preparation for modified Small Quantities Protocol States in the Caribbean.
Several international agencies are combining resources to mount the workshop. These include United States Department of Energy, the National Nuclear Security Administration and the International Nuclear Safeguards Engagement Programme all of which are collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency in organizing the workshop.
In remarks to formally open the workshop at the Trade Winds hotel on Monday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dr. Clarence Pilgrim, said the workshop was not only timely; it is essential.
“As Small Island Developing States, we have little to no quantities of nuclear material or nuclear facilities, but we are nevertheless we must adhere to important international obligations under the global non-proliferation regime that binds us. Our responsibilities under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, especially with modified Small Quantities Protocol, remain critical to ensuring transparency, accountability, and the peaceful use of all nuclear-related materials under our jurisdiction,” he stated.
According to PS Dr. Pilgrim for many Caribbean states, the training represents a significant step forward in building the technical capacity required to meet these obligations effectively.
“It provides an opportunity to deepen our understanding of reporting requirements, to develop accurate nuclear material inventories, and to enhance our readiness to submit timely and comprehensive information to the IAEA,” he explained.
Along with Antigua and Barbuda, participants are attending from St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Suriname, the Bahamas, Grenada and Belize.
The objectives of the workshop are;
- Familiarize Caribbean countries with reporting obligations under a Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA) with modified Small Quantities Protocol (mSQP)
- Assist in development and submission of nuclear material inventory for invited Caribbean countries with mSQP
- Assist in development and submission of Additional Protocol (AP) declarations for invited Caribbean countries with AP
- Encourage entry into force of the AP and subsequent reporting
