Letter of the Day | Open Letter to the PM regarding bauxite mining in St Ann

THE EDITOR, Madam:

We, the undersigned, call on the Government of Jamaica to comply with Resolution 65/2022 through which the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) granted precautionary measures in favour of individualised Afro-descendant people from peasant communities in St. Ann (the beneficiaries). The request for precautionary measures was filed by Malene Alleyne of Freedom Imaginaries.

The IACHR issued the resolution on November 24 after considering that the beneficiaries are in a serious and urgent situation that poses a risk of irreparable harm to their rights to health, personal integrity, and life due to the alleged impacts of bauxite-mining activities within their communities and reported acts of violence. These bauxite mining activities are carried out by Discovery Bauxite Partners, formerly Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partners II, of which the government is a majority owner.

The IACHR noted the beneficiaries’ claims regarding their chronic exposure to bauxite dust pollution; the resultant deterioration of their health;, and, in one case, the premature death of a spouse; the contamination of their drinking-water sources; and the state’s alleged failure to adopt measures to mitigate the risk. In addition, the IACHR observed that some of the beneficiaries have reportedly been subjected to acts of violence and received threats because of their critical position against bauxite-mining activities.

The IACHR has called on Jamaica to take the necessary measures to protect the rights of the beneficiaries, including carrying out the necessary medical diagnoses; guaranteeing adequate, timely, and specialised medical care; guaranteeing access to contaminant-free water; and adopting the necessary measures to prevent threats, harassment, and other acts of violence against the beneficiaries. The IACHR also requested that Jamaica consult and agree upon the measures to be adopted with the beneficiaries and their representatives.

The Government of Jamaica has 20 days, from November 24, to inform the IACHR on the adoption of the precautionary measures that have been agreed upon.

We note that the IACHR requested information on July 14, 2022, and reiterated the request on September 26, but Jamaica has not submitted its observations. We also note that the government has not consulted with the beneficiaries.

We urge the Government of Jamaica to comply with the precautionary measures in consultation with the beneficiaries and their representatives, to engage in broader stakeholder consultations, and to update the public on the measures adopted.

FREEDOM IMAGINARIES

ESTHER FIGUEROA, Vagabond Media

HUGH DIXON, Southern Trelawny Environmental Agency

THERESA RODRIGUEZ-MOODIE, CEO, Jamaica Environment Trust

DIANA MCCAULAY, Founder, Jamaica Environment Trust

KES GORDON, Friends of Rio Cobre

MICKEL JACKSON, executive director, Jamaicans for Justice