Letter of the Day | Some unanswered questions on Rio Cobre restocking

THE EDITOR, Madam:

On June 30, the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) learnt that the restocking of the Rio Cobre by WINDALCO was taking place, starting at the Flat Bridge. We also learnt that representatives from the National Fisheries Authority and the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) were present. Unfortunately, at that time information on the species, quantity of fish, or if other organisms would be included in the restocking, was not available. It was also not clear if the activity was being guided by an ecological assessment which was required by NEPA, after the massive pollution event in July 2022 from WINDALCO’s effluent holding pond. JET issued a press release on the same day asking several of these questions, including a request for greater transparency.

Later, we learnt from media statements from the Government of Jamaica that WINDALCO, owned by UC Rusal, had received a permit to restock the river with tilapia fingerlings and this restocking was to be guided by an environmental assessment done by an independent expert hired by WINDALCO. This was followed by several social media posts by the People’s National Party (PNP), which claimed responsibility for the restocking.

On July 1, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining (MAFM) issued a press release seeking to offer clarity, but JET has been left with the following questions:

• The MAFM statement said that the release of the fingerlings into the Rio Cobre is to be guided and based on an ecological assessment of the aquatic environment. WINDALCO’s permit also required them to hire an independent freshwater expert to conduct such an assessment. In November 2022, a sum of J$15m from the environmental performance bond was allocated to NEPA to complete an ecological assessment. So, were two assessments done (by NEPA and WINDALCO), or was the money passed to WINDALCO to undertake the ecological assessment? Does NEPA really not see the conflict of interest inherent in having WINDALCO be the agency to contract the ecological assessment?

• When will the ecological assessment be published on either NEPA’s or NFA’s website? JET has been asking for its status for months. Since tilapia is an invasive species to Jamaica, it would be useful to see the level of analysis carried out to assess why this species of fish was selected, as well as an overview of the overall health of the river and the major impacts?

• The MAFM statement also says extensive consultation was done with the community. Where can the public learn about these extensive consultations?

• The MAFM’s statement said that no more than 30,000 tilapia are to be restocked in the river. Did the ecological assessment consider the restocking of other organisms, as fish were likely not the only ones killed as a result of the pollution event?

• Like many others, JET is also uncertain about the role the PNP played in the restocking exercise.

JET is of the view that all this confusion could have been avoided if the Government of Jamaica had simply honoured the commitment made in November 2022 to be transparent on the handling of WINDALCO and all matters surrounding the 2022 pollution event.

THERESA RODRIGUEZ-MOODIE

Environmental Scientist

CEO of Jamaica Environment Trust