Ramsar scandal, embarrassment

by Peter Espeut

THE JAMAICAN Government has agreed to host the Fifth Pan-American Regional Meeting connected with the United Nations Ramsar Convention, and it is taking place right now at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel. Does the Jamaican Government have no shame?

When the Government signed and ratified the Ramsar Convention in 1998, the 5,700 hectares of the Black River Lower Morass were designated a wetland of global importance. By nominating the Black River Lower Morass as a Ramsar Site, the Government recognised its great ecological and economic value, and undertook to conserve the wetlands and the waterfowl they contain. Jamaica's word obviously means very little, for in the decade or so since then, the Black River Ramsar Site has received absolutely no legal or other protection! This is an international scandal, bringing our nation's credibility into question! With its undisputed record of non-performance, isn't the Government embarrassed to host a Ramsar meeting here?

In 2005, the Government recommended and the Ramsar Secretariat designated the 7,500 hectares of mangrove wetlands and surrounding ecosystems of Palisadoes and Port Royal as Jamaica's second Ramsar Site. The devastation of mangroves and dunes which has taken place so far in upgrading of the Palisadoes Highway (another Mike Henry project) is significant. The Jamaica Environment Trust took the Government to court and won, because proper procedures were not followed by the National Environment and Planning Agency, the Ministry of Works, as well as the National Works Agency. (Does this sound familiar?)

The Palisadoes-Port Royal Ramsar site falls within the Palisadoes-Port Royal Protected Area created in 1998, which might lead you to think that at least some protection is being offered to the wetlands and waterfowl and the delicate ecosystems there. But you would be wrong! In the more than a decade since its creation, no regulations have been promulgated for the Palisadoes-Port Royal Protected Area; which means that it is 'protected' in name only; legally, it is just like anywhere else in Jamaica. And so, the Government has breached its undertaking to conserve the wetlands and waterfowl in Jamaica's second Ramsar Site. Ramsar scandal number two!

only a façade

In 2006, the 24,500 hectares of wetlands and cays within the Portland Bight Protected Area (PBPA) were designated Jamaica's third Ramsar Site. And you guessed it! Since the PBPA was created in 2009, no regulations govern what can or cannot take place there. And so again, 'facecard' protection; only a façade. Ramsar scandal number three!

If we are going to bring delegates from dozens of foreign countries here to talk about the conservation of wetlands and waterfowl, shouldn't we have at least one Ramsar success story to crow about? Where are we going to take them on a field trip?

The United Nations Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (signed in the city of Ramsar in Iran in 1971, referred to as 'The Ramsar Convention') was put in place to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands around the world, recognising the fundamental importance of the ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value. How Jamaica has handled her wetlands over the years and in recent times is precisely why the UN prepared the Ramsar Convention in the first place! To put up wetlands for designation as 'Wetlands of International Importance', and then to do absolutely nothing to conserve them, must be the equivalent of national perjury. To turn around and degrade the wetlands inside Ramsar sites must be an affront to the UN and the national heritage of Jamaica.

I hope that the international community will find some way to pressure the Jamaican Government to live up to its international commitments and treaties, and to keep its word.

THE FLAGS ARE GETTING BIGGER

The breaches of the political code of conduct are getting more flagrant. The pennants hanging from public light posts have become huge flags, and the flags have become banners stretching right across the street. On Wednesday, I watched a truck negotiate past an orange banner in Lionel Town, and the several green banners across the roadways in Bull Bay are quite out of order.

If householders wish to place flags or banners on their private property as testimony of their political allegiance, that is one thing; but to try to label whole streets as being People's National Party or Jamaica Labour Party territory surely is garrison behaviour not to be tolerated. Void the ballot boxes in flagged areas and see how quickly the flags and banners come down!

Peter Espeut is a sociologist and environmentalist. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.