No objective analysis of Goat Islands use yet possible
Published:Wednesday | November 27, 2013 | 12:00 AM
Dr. Conrad Douglas, who undertook an environmental scoping study of the Goat Islands recently, said no one could make a critical objective analysis of its use for a logistics hub because there was currently no description of the proposed project.
The scoping study was "very early in the process," Douglas told participants at the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica Chairman's Club Forum at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston yesterday.
The discussion centred around the viability of using the Goat Islands in the Portland Bight Protected Area (PBPA) as a potential Chinese-operated logistics hub.
The idea of building a US$1.5 billion logistics hub in the protected area has not been well received by Jamaican environmentalists.
But Douglas, executive chairman of Conrad Douglas and Associates, said the PBPA "does not fit any of the categories of protected areas as classified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
He said 67,000 people live in "abject poverty" in the area, which has heavy industrial activity as well as activities such as bee farming and charcoal burning.
But according to Diana McCaulay, CEO if the Jamaica Environment Trust, the scoping study "is not accurate enough to guide the Cabinet" (decision). She said no decision could be made on the project without knowing the plan proposed by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC).
"Jamaica's economy is in a sorry state. For 40 years we have experienced anaemic growth," he said.
But with the proposed hub, "Jamaica now stands on the threshold" of a period of "substantial economic growth, development and prosperity," he said.
The development of the hub had "great potential for a 'win-win'," he said. "It can be done. It has been done elsewhere in the world."
Bobby Stephens, development consultant and chairman of Jamaica Protected Area Trust said he was a "bit disturbed" with the approach of the scoping study as it seemed to suggest that because the island is in dire straits it should "turn a blind eye" to the environmental aspect. "It would be nice if government was looking to possible alternatives," he said.
But Douglas said possible alternatives were Fort Augusta in St. Catherine, which was "found (to be) too small;" Jackson Bay in Clarendon was "extremely windy" and Cow Bay, St. Thomas had also been considered. "Choices and alternatives will be an aspect of the EIA," he said.