The government is not considering a ban on the export of copper, according to Minister of State for Finance Michael Halkitis, but will meet with officials from the Department of Customs, Environmental Health and the police to determine if current rules need to be expanded.
This comes after prominent businessman Rupert Roberts and Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) Chairman Leslie Miller urged for a copper export ban to protect businesses and government agencies from theft and financial loss.
Halkitis said while the government has heard their calls, the Christie administration would have to review current policies to determine if a full ban is warranted.
He said regulations mandate that scrap metal dealers have to keep copper in their possession for a certain period and verify the metal's origin. He added that once the copper is loaded onto shipping containers for export, police, Environmental Health officials and customs officers have to be present.
"When the containers are being exported those containers are scanned," he said yesterday. "That is to monitor the legal export of copper. But there's always the possibility that individuals would steal it and smuggle it out of the country."
He said he is organizing a meeting with the relevant officials to determine the success of the regulations.
"Then we will make a determination as to if we need to tighten up or if we need to make considerations for any sort of ban. As of now, no ban is being considered by the government."
In March, Miller said copper thieves caused local businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. He also said any scrap metal dealer who buys stolen metal should be locked up.
He also revealed that BEC has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of copper and equipment due to theft. His family-owned business, Mario's Entertainment Palace, has also been robbed of copper, he added.
Roberts has said his stores have lost almost $1 million in equipment and other costs associated with copper theft.
He explained that he has done what he could to prevent layoffs or permanent store closures because of repeated attacks from thieves.
In July 2011, the Ingraham administration placed a temporary ban on the scrap metal trade and a permanent ban on copper exports in response to the rise in copper theft.
The former government later lifted the copper ban and amended the Customs Management Act to allow for copper exports under stringent conditions.

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