CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Nassau, The Bahamas, on 8-9 December 2001 with regional and international stakeholders of the regional tourism industry learnt with consternation that yet another shipment of nuclear waste is currently being shipped through Caribbean waters via the Panama Canal.

CARICOM Heads of Government, who have repeatedly expressed their implacable opposition to this practice, were joined by all other participating stakeholders in the regional tourism industry in condemning this practice, which can constitute one of the most serious threats to the safety and security of the Region in general, and to the tourism industry, in particular.

CARICOM Heads of Government were particularly concerned that at a time when security issues are foremost among the preoccupations of the entire international community, the Caribbean region should be exposed to the serious risk of having hazardous nuclear waste transhipped through its waters.

CARICOM Heads of Government reiterated their implacable opposition to, and condemnation of this practice and called on all involved to desist from perpetrating this repeated threat to the lives of the peoples of the Caribbean Region.