IAEA Supports Stocktaking of Radioactive Sources in the Caribbean Part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

In Aruba, the largest island visited during the mission, the IAEA team assisted the Ministry of Health in reviewing 39 industrial and medical facilities. 

“This helps us lay a solid foundation for the future, ensuring that our island is better prepared to address challenges and embrace opportunities with resilience and confidence,” said Roselynn Angela, Inspector of Pharmaceuticals in the Department of Medicine Inspection at the Ministry of Health in Aruba. 

“This mission allowed us to gain new insights into aspects of radiation safety that we had not previously considered,” said Tanisha Guy, Policy Officer in the Department of Public Health of Sint Maarten. The team visited 27 medical and industrial facilities on the densely populated island.  

In Bonaire, the international experts collaborated with the Policy Officer of Environment at the Directorate of Spatial Planning and Development and assessed 21 industrial and medical facilities. They also visited the Fire Department to raise awareness about devices that may contain radiation and to discuss the role of first responders in the event of an incident. 

In Saba, the team reviewed nine industrial and medical facilities that use radioactive sources. “As a small island, we could not have achieved this inventory alone,” said Menno Bakker, Head of the Department of Public Health and Sports in Saba. “The expertise and support provided by the mission team ensured its successful completion.” 

As a follow-up to the mission, with extrabudgetary support from the Netherlands, the IAEA will procure radiation detection equipment and software through its technical cooperation programme, and train personnel in all islands to strengthen regulatory oversight.

The mission follows a previous exercise by the IAEA and the Netherlands to increase radiation safety in the region. In 2019, a similar mission was completed in Curacao. 

“This mission demonstrates the value of collaboration,” said Esin Cumert, Senior Policy Officer at the Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Division in the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands. “Through partnership with the IAEA and commitment of local authorities and stakeholders, an inventory of radiation sources was established — a vital step towards a safer future.”