Island protection

摘要

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) are a dependent overseas territory of the UK, located in the Leeward Islands of the eastern Caribbean. The territory consists of more than 40 islands, totalling some 59 square miles of land area. The BVI economy relies upon tourism and international banking, and imports most of its goods — including hazardous materials (also known as dangerous goods) — from the United States of America and Europe. Because of the close proximity to Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, most shipments of hazardous materials originate from these US territories, and are identified in accordance with US law when they arrive in the BVI. Modern societies generate, transport, store and use significant quantities of hazardous materials. In developed nations, an infrastructure of public concern, regulation and emergency response capability has arisen, especially after events like the Seveso chemical plant disaster in 1976 and the 1984 Bhopal disaster. However, in developing countries and territories, the hazardous materials infrastructure is still being constructed, and the lack of public concern may slow the growth of effective regulation and emergency response4. Even some government officials in the BVI have remarked that there are no hazardous materials present in the territory. To combat public apathy, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has fostered awareness of the hazards of dangerous goods through its Awareness and Preparedness for Emergencies at a Local Level (APELL) process.