Stop the insanity!!!

Stop the mis-information!!!

Stop suffering for LOI (Lack of Information!!!)

That’s it, I have to stop the insanity. The next time I hear the news or radio say “We are selling control of our ports”, or “We are selling our ports to…” I think I may just have to shoot my TV or Radio to end the insanity of it all.

Once and for all WE ARE NOT SELLING OUR PORTS OR CONTROL OF OUR PORTS!

Here are some FACTS:

Since 911 funding for the port security has:

Funding has increased by more than 700% since September 11, 2001.

Funding for port security was approximately $259 million in FY 2001.

DHS spent approximately $1.6 billion on port security in FY 2005.

Following 9/11, the federal government has implemented a multi-layered defense strategy to keep our ports safe and secure. New technologies have been deployed with additional technologies being developed and $630 million has been provided in grants to our largest ports, including $16.2 million to Baltimore; $32.7 million to Miami; $27.4 million to New Orleans, $43.7 million to New York/New Jersey; and $15.8 million to Philadelphia.

DP World will not, nor will any other terminal operator, control, operate or manage any United States port. DP World will only operate and manage specific, individual terminals located within six ports.

The recent business transaction taken by DP World, a United Arab Emirates based company, to acquire British company Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) does not change the operations or security of keeping our nation’s ports safe. The people working on the docks also will not change as a result of this transaction.

This transaction is not an issue of controlling United States’ ports. It is an issue of operating some terminals within U.S. ports.

DP World will operate at the following terminals within the six United States’ ports currently operated by the United Kingdom company, P & O:
o Baltimore - 2 of 14 total
o Philadelphia - 1 of 5 (does not include the 1 cruise vessel terminal)
o Miami - 1 of 3 (does not include the 7 cruise vessel terminals)
o New Orleans - 2 of 5 (does not include the numerous chemical plant terminals up and down the Mississippi River, up to Baton Rouge)
o Houston – 4 of 12 (P&O work alongside other stevedoring* contractors at the terminals)
o Newark/Elizabeth – 1 of 4
o (Note:  also in Norfolk - Involved with stevedoring activities at all 5 terminals, but not managing a specific terminal.)

*Stevedoring – provides labor, carries physical loading and unloading of cargo.

P&O and DP World made a commitment to comply with current security programs, regulations and partnerships to which P&O currently subscribes, including:
o The Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT);
o The Container Security Initiative (CSI);
o The Business Alliance on Smuggling and Counterfeiting (BASC); and,
o The Megaports Initiative MOU with the Department of Energy.

All P&O security arrangements will remain intact, including cargo security cooperation with CBP, compliance with USCG regulations (ISPS and MTSA) regarding port facilities/terminals, and foreign terminal operations within CSI ports.

Dubai was the first Middle Eastern entity to join the Container Security Initiative (March 2005). As a result, CBP officer are working closely with Dubai Customs to screen containers destined for the U.S. Cooperation with Dubai officials has been outstanding and a model for other operation within CSI ports.

So stop saying we are selling our ports or control of our ports!! Get the facts right and stop listening to the MSM!!! Oh and they already have terminals in Port Everglades (Ft. Lauderdale,FL and Tampa.!!)

Don't forget to check out my NEW Audioblog, UPDATED 02/16/06!!