NEPA must be consistent

THE EDITOR, Sir:

THE LONG-AWAITED ruling that the people of Harbour View had been waiting on for the last 25 years is important for a variety of reasons. The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and the Natural Resources Conser-vation Authority failed miserably, in that they did not serve and/or carry out the enforcement notice on the National Water Commission (NWC), another government entity that clearly breached the laws on the environment. How can we allow this to happen? Where is the transparency?

NEPA can order any privately operated institution, like those in the hospitality and the sugar industries, to adhere to strict envi-ronment principles and ensure that these clean and safe environ-mental practices are carried out. Failure to do so will result in the suspension and/or cancellation of the license to operate. What about the NWC? Why were they allowed to flout these laws?

If NEPA can compel these private firms to play by the environmental rules, then its counterpart(s) in the Government system must also be so compelled.

be fair in duties

This breakdown in responsibility does not appeal to potential investors and/or local private-sector entities. This bureaucracy and red tape must stop.

Noted environmentalist and head of Jamaica Environment Trust, Diana McCaulay, who supported the residents, said that "One of the lessons is that I have to recognise that our regulatory agencies are generally not going to proceed against government agencies". No agency in Jamaica, government or privately owned, is immune from regulatory agencies such as NEPA. Let us be fair in our duties.

"All animals are created equal but some are more equal than some." George Orwell.

I am, etc.,

RODWIN GREEN

rodwin@stu.ncu.ed.jm

Siloah P.O.

St Elizabeth