Stronger action needed to protect the Rio Cobre

THE EDITOR, Madam:

On the morning of June 24, 2024, the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) received a recording from a member of the Friends of Rio Cobre, showing the greenish-coloured, polluted water of the Rio Cobre at Zephyrton, St Catherine.

The video was promptly forwarded to the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA); the National Fisheries Authority (NFA); Senator Matthew Samuda, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth & Job Creation; and members of the media.

In response, a team from NEPA and NFA was deployed to collect water quality samples and assess the situation. The water quality results revealed elevated pH levels, indicative of discharge from bauxite effluent. NEPA has not yet officially named the responsible organisation.

These pollution incidents continue to occur as the previous pollution incidents in 2019, 2021, and 2022, allegedly caused by Windalco, a bauxite-alumina processing facility in Ewarton, which are still before the courts. Despite the reported completion of the promised second effluent holding plant, it has not been sufficient to prevent future spills, as was assured.

One can therefore safely conclude that the actions taken by NEPA and the Government of Jamaica are inadequate to protect the environment and public health. It is also clear that the community’s role in monitoring the river is critical, as there is still no real-time monitoring of the river.

JET once again reiterates the call for stronger action against organisations responsible for repeated environmental violations, such as revoking their environmental permits until the public can be guaranteed that such pollution incidents will no longer occur.

THERESA RODRIGUEZ-MOODIE, PHD

CEO, JET