Bauxite mining and the Windrush generation

THE EDITOR, Madam:

As a concerned citizen of the Cockpit Country, it begs the question of what kind of politicians we have in power. In a recent video circulating on the internet, Mr Audley Shaw’s answer to a question about bauxite mining in Cockpit Country. He said: “The companies generally have shown good support for communities in which they operate, and the people are highly appreciative of it ...”

Shaw, who recently became the minister of transport and mining, has never lived, visited, or addressed individuals and communities who suffer from bauxite mining in this part of the island. Are we highly appreciative of the destruction to the landscape? Do we appreciate the tearing apart of the family and other social structures to accommodate bauxite mining? Are we highly appreciative of losing our lands and sources of livelihood? Are we highly appreciative of the many bauxite mining complaints and cases that are not addressed, or redressed in favour of the bauxite mining companies?

Further, he stated that the National Environment and Planning Agency is a government agency with concerns for protecting the environment. Protection of the environment has nothing to do with safeguarding individuals’ and communities’ human or constitutional rights.

He discussed the perception that the companies mine all the land. However, according to him, this is not so, only pockets of land. Are these not arable pockets of land? Who owns the hills surrounding the mined-out pockets of land? Can people farm and remove resources from those hills? And how do they get through these cavities to farm the limestone hills?

The Government must correct the injustices bauxite mining caused. In this area, exuding any form of appreciation will begin by repealing the bauxite mining laws, which are colonial, and address the deliberate underhanded tactic of moving the Windrush generation off Cockpit Country lands deemed economically viable for foreign investors.

These bauxite mining laws, especially those under World War II – war time effort – were used to dislodge individuals and communities to send them to England, only to be treated inhumanely. I am talking about the Windrush generation that owned lands in the Cockpit Country, whom the colonial government deliberately targeted to access the bauxite in their land.

There are other bauxite mining laws, such as the SMLs 172 and 173. What are in these contracts? What powers do you give to the mining companies in the grant clauses of these contracts? What is the status of your obligations under international treaties governing trade, investment and human rights?

Now, Mr Shaw, when you have sufficiently answered these questions, address and redress the 70 years of human-rights ills that bauxite mining causes to individuals and communities, such as those in the Cockpit Country, we might show some appreciation. Until then, please refrain from using patronising political double-talk to defend your position about concerns for individuals and communities you do not know. We are not expendable.

ELAINE CAMPBELL-DAENEN

Legal and Social Researcher