Don’t allow bauxite trucks to use community road

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) has received reports from residents in Barrett Hall and Coultart Grove, St Ann, regarding a bauxite-alumina company’s intention to use the community’s narrow roads for their bauxite trucks. The community believes the company to be Windalco even though the area falls within the Special Exclusive Prospecting Licence 582 (SEPL) which is not in their name. Homes are located immediately adjacent to the roadway and residents are concerned, that for over at least the next two years, they will be subjected to dust and noise. The frequently passing trucks will also create a safety hazard for other users of these roads, including children.

Residents report that meetings were held on August 23 and September 24, 2023 in Barrett Hall and promises were made to pave the roads, if the community would allow them to widen the roads for the trucks. We understand there have been no offers to purchase land. Residents currently without titles were also reportedly promised assistance to get titles for their properties. The usual promises to wash tyres, cover trucks and place dust monitors were made.

To promise paved roads to the people who live in these rural communities if they will accept impacts to their health and quality of life due to dusting and noise is exploitative and the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) should not allow it. The GOJ has a duty to protect the health and well-being of its citizens.

We also understand that representatives from the St Ann Municipal Corporation, present at the meeting on August 23, indicated that they would not grant the necessary permissions unless the community agreed, but now there are reports that approval has been given.

Does the GOJ support this approach?

JAMAICA ENVIRONMENT

TRUST