Swapping environmental health for jobs

HIS OWN conduct led Prime Minister Golding two weeks ago to make an open apology to the Jamaican people. In effect, he was admitting his poor judgement in delaying for nine months the initiation of extradition proceedings against Christopher 'Dudus' Coke. In an effort to apprehend Mr Coke, we have seen the greatest assault against Tivoli Gardens in its history.

In the aftermath, Mr Golding has suddenly remembered that dismantling garrisons was a campaign promise in the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) 2007 manifesto, and he is showing signs of pursuing that goal with gusto. In effect, he is also admitting his poor judgement in delaying for three years initiating the dismantling of garrisons. We wait to see how serious is his commitment to actually do it!

But while we concentrate on these two matters, I want to raise a third area of the prime minister's terribly poor judgement - his environmental record - about which there is much for him to apologise.

A few months after taking office, the PM invited the environ-mental community to meet with him at Jamaica House. He declared his serious commitment to environ-mental conservation and sustainable development. He undertook to implement the 2007 manifesto promise of creating an environmental regulatory authority to complement the functions of the National Resource Conservation Authority and National Environment Protection Agency. Three years later it has not happened, and there is a deafening silence.

The greatest assault

Initially, 'The Environment' portfolio was attached to the Ministry of Health, but soon it was announced that 'The Environment' was transferred to the Office of the Prime Minister. What has followed is the greatest assault on the health and quality of the Jamaican environment in our history. Let me give some examples.

The Bengal Cliffs in St Ann (also called Puerto Bueno Mountain) - the last remaining stand of relatively intact dry limestone forest on Jamaica's north coast - came into the possession of Shower Posse leader Vivian Blake, and is to be converted into a limestone quarry. St Ann Parish Development Order (2000) designates the area as 'Undeveloped Coast' and has earmarked it for environmental conservation, yet its valuable forest ecosystems and wildlife are to be destroyed without a thorough, independent environmental impact assessment (EIA) being conducted. As hopeless as the previous People's National Party government was about the environment, this makes them look good. And, the political connection is not to be discounted.

The ecologically sensitive Font Hill property in St Elizabeth - designated for environmental conservation in the South Coast Sustainable Development Plan - is to be sold for the construction of a Spanish hotel. The Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism, prepared at great expense by the government, makes it clear that south coast tourism is to be developed along low-density lines in contrast to the mass tourism on the north. This high-density Spanish hotel will destroy wetlands which serve as a globally important bird habitat (the Smithsonian Institution has been conducting research there for decades), and will reduce the quality of Jamaica as a nature and eco-tourism destination.

Subcontractors

The plan to build a four-lane highway to the Norman Manley International Airport will destroy much of the natural ecology of the Palisadoes strip, and no relevant environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been done. Although the Chinese government will fund the project and will provide the main contractors, watch carefully who the subcontractors will be!

It seems like prime minister Golding's anti-environmental government is resurrecting every rejected plan for environmental destruction in the name of development. The building of a cruise ship pier in Port Royal will substantially destroy the relatively intact ruins of the historic city which sank in 1692. Bauxite mining in the Cockpit Country will destroy that valuable wet limestone forest with its flora and fauna, and disrupt the water supplies of Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, St James and Trelawny. Limestone mining in Canoe Valley, Manchester, will destroy delicate wetlands and many Taino sites. Prospecting for oil in the Portland Bight Protected Area will damage valuable marine environment, and affect the livelihoods of the 4,000 fishers who make their living there. Just check out what is happening in the Gulf of Mexico to get an idea of the possibilities!

The poor judgement of the government regarding the environment requires as dramatic an about face as that which we have seen with the extradition request for Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

What catastrophic events must take place before we get our about face?

Peter Espeut is an environmentalist and a Roman Catholic deacon.