TRANSPORT and Works Minister Lester ‘Mike’ Henry says the bomb threat that led to the 72-hour ban on air cargo from Jamaica to the United States, the Bahamas and Canada may have been nothing but a hoax.

In a statement to Parliament yesterday, Henry said “preliminary investigations conducted by the National Intelligence Bureau suggest that the report is a hoax maliciously contrived to defame an employee of an airport concessionaire.”

On Sunday all cargo was suspended following a bomb scare regarding an outgoing cargo flight from Jamaica to the United States. Following the alarm, the US imposed the 72-hour ban on all air cargo departing Jamaica for the US or using US air space to Canada and the Bahamas while officials investigated.

Yesterday Henry said investigations were still being carried out to “confirm beyond doubt the preliminary finding as well as apprehending those who might be responsible for this disruption in international civil aviation”.

The transport and works minister said a team from the US Transport and Safety Administration and Department of Homeland Security arrived in the island on Monday to consult with the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCCA) and review the security arrangements at two of Jamaica’s two international airports — Norman Manley in Kingston and Sangster in Montego Bay, St James.

He said arising out of those consultations, the temporary ban was lifted in respect of flights bound for Canada and the Bahamas. Subsequent to his statement, the House was noted by Information Minister Daryl Vaz that the ban in respect of US-bound flights had also been lifted.

“Jamaica maintains a high level of security screening for both passengers and cargo on all outgoing flights. Any threat of the kind involved in this instance is taken seriously until investigations suggest otherwise. At the same time, care is being take to review our security protocols to ensure the maximum safety of aircraft and passengers using our airport,” the Transport and Works Minister told the Lower House of Parliament.

The lifting of the suspension means that cargo and duty free items will now be allowed to leave the island for these countries.