JAMAICA | Opposition PNP Calls for Transparency from the NRCA Board on Mammee Bay Development

Kingston, Jamaica. August 19, 2024: The Opposition People’s National Party is urging the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) Board to update the country on the process undertaken in granting approval to China Harbour Construction Limited for a residential development in Mammee Bay, St. Ann. 

The proposed site is located in an ecologically sensitive area, encompassing critical watershed that requires protection.

Senator Sophia Frazer-Binns, Opposition Spokesperson on Environment and Ecological Heritage, stated, “Based on information received, concerns have arisen regarding perceived procedural irregularities, raising questions about the approval process.”

She continued, “The NRCA, alongside the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), holds the vital responsibility to safeguard the environment. Therefore, any action which can affect the environment must be conducted with transparency and openness, ensuring that public opinion is duly considered.”

The Opposition is particularly interested in understanding whether the comments and concerns raised by citizens during the public consultation in January were taken into account in the final decision.

To build public trust and confidence, the NRCA Board is being called upon to share the procedures that were followed and to state the consideration given to the comments of the public at the consultation in January.

In light of the existing low levels of trust and confidence in the NRCA and NEPA, it is crucial that the Board updates the country on this very sensitive matter.

By doing so, the NRCA can reinforce its commitment to environmental stewardship and restore faith in its role as a protector of Jamaica’s environment and ecological heritage.

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