Coal burning will damage environment

THE EDITOR, Sir:

In response to an article from Guy Symes published in yesterday's Gleaner, wherein he claims that charcoal burning for export could be sustainable, perhaps Mr Symes could answer the following questions:

1) How will such a trade be regulated in order to ensure the wood being burned is not from forest reserves, national parks or primary/threatened forests? It certainly cannot be done at the point when the coal is in a shipping container.

2) Who will pay the costs of this regulatory burden?

3) What is to be done about the air pollution caused by burning coal?

I can only conclude that Mr Symes must never leave his office to have seen no evidence of incursion and tree cutting in forest reserves and other environmentally sensitive areas.

DIANA MCCAULAY

Chief Executive Officer

Jamaica Environment Trust