Unwanted export

By Akanisi Motufaga

THE Marshall Islands government has hinted that it will accept revenue from setting up an international nuclear waste storage tional facility in order to restore

economic productivity.

Prime Minister Amata Kabua said such revenue would be adequate to

support modest development projects.

“Let me further state that if a safe international facility can be established in my country, its revenue would permit my government to clean-up and dispose of radioactive contaminants in our aban doned islands in a proper manner to restore these islands to economic produc tivity and to provide essential care for our people afflicted with radiation induced illness,” he said.

“It would indeed be encouraging if such revenue would be adequate to not

only support modest development objec

tives in the Marshall Islands, but also those of our neighbouring countries.

“Let us together regard this prospect as a glimmer of hope for mankind’s salvation from nuclear dangers,” Kabua said at the 25th South Pacific Forum in Brisbane last month.

He said his government lacked the technology and financial resources to undo the damage done to the people and the land. Kabua said it was well known

Marshalls studying nuclear storage plan, says president Kabua

that the clean-up efforts undertaken in the past few years had failed to restore land conditions for people to live safely and that existing storage facilities were well below the standards to protect the environment.

“Many islands remain abandoned.

We know, too, that the incidence of cancer that may be traced to the prevalence of nuclear contamination on a number of our islands is on the increase,” he said. “Many of my people are suffering from radiation-induced illness. This is a health crisis that my government must seek to resolve.

“Surely, the Marshall Islands may hope for the understanding and support of the Pacific region and the interna tional community as my government strives to examine the possible means by

which our people may be permitted to return to the homes from which they have for so long been in exile.

“At the same time, the Marshallese people and their government may hope that if a solution can be found for their grave problem, the nuclear menace to the world may by that same means be relieved,” he said.

Kabua said the world was at risk in the absence of effective and permanent measure to contain nuclear material. He said there was not a single facility considered suitable for permanent storage and that the safety of large facilities was open to question.

He said security breaches had led to nuclear thefts and that such materials could be used to make weapons. He said his government had set up a National

Commission comprising representatives

from all sectors to make recommenda tions to government on nuclear-related issues.

“My government is pledged to broaden consultations regarding the outcome of a study on nuclear waste.

“We must all be committed to arriving at the most responsible solution so that our generation and generations to follow will be spared the plight that has befallen my people and others who have suffered the ravages of the nuclear menace,”

Kabua said. □