Peter Espeut | Doublespeak about ecocide

Speaking at a public function last Tuesday, Prime Minister Andrew Holness engaged in political doublespeak as he sought to defend his now-stained environmental record. Listen to him; I transcribed his words myself from the audio:

“We get criticised and beaten up unfairly because we have taken the approach that on the one hand, we have to address our poverty issue, and on the other hand, we have to preserve our environment as a legacy for generations to come. But the conversation that is had sometimes is as if we must just preserve the legacy and don’t address poverty. And nothing can’t go like that, because if you don’t address poverty, it will destroy the legacy.”

Come now, Honourable Prime Minister: you know, and we know, that it’s not one or the other (environmental conservation or poverty alleviation). Sustainable development means economic growth without damaging the environment. Degrading natural ecosystems – whether in the seas, wetlands or in the mountains – will impoverish fisherfolk and farmers. That is where we are now.

Overfishing caused by decades of government mismanagement of that sector has led to reduced catches and incomes for coastal dwellers, and damaged coral reefs due to improper fishing practices. We are ranked as having the most overfished waters in the region!

MISMANAGEMENT

Deforestation caused by decades of government mismanagement has caused extensive soil erosion (look at satellite images of Jamaica and the plume of silt flowing to the west); and has caused more than 100 rivers to dry up, stressing farmers and all users of water. At one time we had the highest rate of deforestation in the world. We don’t have enough forest left to sustain that high ranking.

Yes, we know that poor, hungry people may pillage natural ecosystems in order to eat. But we also know that wealthy people with tractors do much more damage to the natural environment than poor people with machetes. Prime Minister: Don’t blame poor people for “destroying the legacy”. Shame on you! Puerto Bueno Mountain would not have been destroyed by poor people. The Cockpit Country outside the protected area is not now being destroyed by poor people.

The truth is that your Government – and the several before you of all colours – have neither alleviated poverty nor conserved the environment. Jamaican governments have pursued economic growth at the expense of the environment (i.e., unsustainable development). The little-increased per capita GDP we have achieved has been bought at heavy cost: dredged coral reefs, chopped-down forests, and dug-down mountains.

Your shameful and unfounded accusation that “the conversation that is had sometimes is as if we must just preserve the legacy and don’t address poverty” is unworthy of you. Who is having that conversation, Prime Minister? In whose unsavoury company have you been? We environmentalists want serious economic growth along with environmental conservation! And we are getting neither!

DOUBLESPEAK

Last Tuesday, Prime Minister Holness continued in the same vein:

“So when you hear the conversations about environmental management, I implore all well-thinking citizens: don’t just listen to one side of the conversation. Pay attention to the full picture. You have to eat, and we have to protect the environment. The Government is making sure that you can pursue your livelihood and still have the environment that you can enjoy and leave as a legacy for your children. It’s a balance in sustainability. That is what we are doing.”

And this is the political doublespeak. When it comes to mining, the Government is making sure that after the bauxite companies make their profit, there will be no healthy environment left as a legacy for our children and grandchildren. That is the full picture!

This is called ecocide! Ecocide may be defined as acts committed with the knowledge that there is the likelihood of severe, widespread, long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts.

If Prime Minister Holness wants to deserve a reputation for sound environmental stewardship, he should immediately put an end to the ecocide of our natural heritage by taking steps to shut down the mining industry. The few dollars Jamaica earns are not worth the degradation, rural poverty and dislocation which result.

Peter Espeut is a sociologist and development scientist. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.