Stop inventing your facts, NEPA

THE EDITOR, Sir:

As chairman of the Beach Restoration Committee, established in 2005 by Dr Wykeham McNeill, I was appalled to hear the misleading things said by Sherice Simpson of the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) on CVM Live at 7 on Tuesday, March 24, 2015.

Ms Simpson said we "marched" on Jamaica House in 2010. The truth is, we did have a scheduled meeting in December 2008 at Jamaica House with then prime minister, Bruce Golding. Also present were: Daryl Vaz, minister of information; Dr Wykeham McNeill, MP for Western Westmoreland; Ainsley Henry of NEPA; a representative from the Dutch dredging company, Boskalis; Dr David Smith, Smith Warner International and myself. The purpose of the meeting was to seek assistance to source funding for a beach nourishment exercise for Negril. At no time did we discuss or request money to build any breakwaters.

As I am not aware of the march referred to, perhaps someone from the media could oblige and remind us in Negril when that took place. I am sure that such an endeavour, covering the 140 miles from Negril to Kingston, would have been newsworthy.

I also heard a version of this story from Peter Knight, CEO of NEPA, when he addressed the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee in Gordon House. Mr Knight said it was the Negril stakeholders who asked for a breakwater.

I sincerely wish that NEPA and its agents would stop distorting the truth on this matter and stick to the facts as they actually transpired.

DANIEL GRIZZLE

Chairman

Negril Beach

Restoration Project