NEPA needs to improve monitoring and enforcement

THE EDITOR, Madam:

In the article, ‘CHEC rejects calls for shutdown of Mammee Bay Housing Development’, published in The Gleaner on September 10, the China Harbour Engineering Company Limited, in reference to the Mammee Bay Housing Development project, claimed that their “commitment to environmental stewardship is a cornerstone of this project, and we will ensure that environmental protection is upheld throughout every stage, from construction to long-term operation”.

On August 15, the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) wrote to the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) shortly after learning that extensive land clearance had begun at the project site. Two environmental permits and one environmental licence had been approved by the Natural Resources Conservation Authority at their meetings of May 21 and July 16, but various conditions were to be fulfilled prior to land clearance.

In response to our letter on September 2, NEPA stated, “the Agency notes that works have commenced without all prerequisite conditions being satisfied and have subsequently communicated with the applicant, advising that all work should cease prior to compliance with the applicable permit conditions.”

Starting work by clearing vegetation before meeting all permit conditions does not reflect that “environmental stewardship is a cornerstone of this project”. In fact, it shows a disregard for NEPA, the laws of Jamaica, and all Jamaicans.

JET and the community of environmentalists maintain that this development in a critical watershed area is ill-conceived. NEPA must improve its monitoring and enforcement efforts. Stopping work only after damage has already occurred is useless.

JAMAICA ENVIRONMENT TRUST