The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
A Fife Christmas Island veteran who witnessed British nuclear tests in the 1950s believes the Ministry of Defence should be renamed the Ministry of Deceit,
A FIFE Christmas Island veteran who witnessed British nuclear tests in the 1950s believes the Ministry of Defence should be renamed the Ministry of Deceit.
David Whyte from Kirkcaldy believes there are direct comparisons between the way the MOD has handled information about radiation levels he was exposed to while serving in the armed forces, and the apparent reluctance to accept liability for radiation levels linked to broken up world war two aircraft dials on Dalgety Bay beach.
Mr Whyte (75), who is awaiting a judgment tribunal report after he took the MOD to court for refusing to supply him with information about radiation levels on Christmas Island, spoke out after reading in yesterday’s Courier the comments of a retired MOD scientist who believes there should be more “transparency and openness” in government
Fred Dawson, a former assistant director of health physics with the MOD who specialised in radioactive waste management during a 30-year career, said he believes it is time for polluters to be identified and “held to account”, as pressure mounts on the MOD to admit liability for radioactive contamination at Dalgety Bay beach.
Yesterday Mr Whyte said: “I do not trust the Ministry of Defence, indeed, they should be called the Ministry of Deceit as they never tell the full story. There appears to be some similarities in the excuses given for Christmas Island and Dalgety Bay.”
In one document dated March 2006 shown tothe Courier by Mrwhyte, it states: “The only radioactive material remaining on the (Christmas) Island as a result of the tests were more than 80 radium-226 luminous vehicle dials.”
Yet in a subsequent document dated December 2008 it states that contamination from these dials was subsequently discovered at 111 individual locations.
Mr Whyte said: “Considering large pits were dug and many old vehicles were dumped together, I find it strange that the 80 dials managed to be spread around 111 different locations.
“What are the Ministry of Defence afraid of revealing? Are they attempting to hide the possibility that nuclear waste has been dumped at numerous Ministry of Defence sites and kept quiet for fear of a public backlash against themselves or the civilian nuclear industry?”
Mr Whyte, who is one of more than 1,000 veterans fighting for MOD compensation over Christmas Island, believes a conspiracy of silence is being conducted at the MOD against all nuclear test veterans.
Mr Whyte saw two atom bombs and three hydrogen bombs tested on the Pacific island in 1958. He claims he was left sterile and has been plagued by health problems. He said he and fellow soldiers from the Royal Engineers were given protective clothing for only one test.
At a recent hearing held at the Tribunals Court in London, Mr Whyte complained
“What are the Ministry of Defence afraid of revealing?”
David Whyte
that his attempts to get information about his medical history through Freedom of Information have been blocked. He believes his nuclear medical records have been conveniently lost .
An MOD spokesman opened his submission by affirming that “the Ministry of Defence would not allow any information that is incorrect to be made public”.
The spokesman, under cross examination by the panel, admitted that raw data on radiation levels at Christmas Island did exist, but it was held by a contractor of the MOD, the Atomic Weapons Establishment.
Mr Whyte has received the backing of the Combined Veterans’ Forum International, which believes the ‘hidden’evidence is “an act of deliberate criminal negligence”.
Mr Whyte expects his tribunal judgment result soon.
So far the MOD acknowledges a “debt of gratitude” but denies negligence.
Meanwhile, at Dalgety Bay, the MOD has signed a joint agreement with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to investigate the site further.
This will continue until May next year.