SPENCER

The following is an open letter to Prime Minister Bruce Golding from 29 environmental groups and individuals.

Dear Prime Minister:

We write to you as individuals and a coalition of organisations with grave concerns about Jam-aica's natural environment. We offer our thoughts and recommendations as follows:

Appointment of a Minister of Environment

We feel there is a lack of clarity regarding ministerial responsibility for the environment. While there is a Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer, we have also been told that environmental matters are being dealt with at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).

Many of us are anxious to meet with the minister of the environment but have so far been unable to do so. We suggest that a full-fledged minister of environment, also with responsibility for land, be identified and that this be a separate Cabinet position.

This is too important an area to be combined with other responsibilities, given the magnitude of the issues and their implications for Jamaica's future.

Protection of Biological Diversity

The plan for a National System of Parks and Protected Areas was proposed over 20 years ago and has been under review by various teams for more than a decade.

We respectfully request that the status of the plan be revealed to the public and a commitment made for its urgent implementation.

Sustainable development

We all recognise and support the urgency for economic and social development but it has been the GOJ's commitment that development should be sustainable. Environmental degradation and the increasing gap between the rich and the poor are disturbing signs of unsustainable development in Jamaica.

We believe the current approaches to development, particularly large-scale coastal construction, clearly demonstrate a lack of understanding of sustainable development principles along with serious planning failures, particularly with respect to urbanisation, land use and zoning, protection of ecosystems, management of human settlements, vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters, transportation and energy use.

We are particularly concerned when major undertakings by both the Government and the private sector are started without adequately addressing a wide range of public concerns and in breach of the law.

Responsiveness and transparency

We are concerned over the low level of responsiveness and transparency of the public sector regarding environmental issues. It is often difficult to obtain information or even a response from some government entities including the National Environment and Planning Agency and your office, the OPM.

We suggest that specific directives be given to all agencies with respect to responsiveness and transparency. We suggest that key information on plans, programmes and budgets be given to the public, via the Jamaica Information Service website and newspaper supplements. We also request that a state of the environment report be commissioned and published by the Government on a regular basis.

Law enforcement

We are concerned at the lack of enforcement of environmental laws, particularly if the breaches have been committed or allowed by other government agencies. We are aware that steps have been taken to revise the NRCA Act and we request that this be the subject of urgent public consultation and review.

A new law is needed which allows mechanisms for administrative action including meaningful fines in cases of breaches, mandatory EIAs and public consultation (with appropriate regulations) for certain types of development, and the provision for citizen suits. These are three of many issues we would like included in new legislation.

Fires islandwide

In the dry periods every year, uncontrolled bush and garbage fires threaten lives and public health, destroy property and crops, and damage forests and other ecosystems. Although it is illegal to set fires without a permit, little attention seems to be paid either to public education or enforcement action.

We recommend the minister of environment lead an urgent public education programme to warn citizens of the public health and other dangers, followed by swift, effective enforcement action.

We would like to have a response to our concerns and action in respect of the issues we have raised.

Although it is illegal to set fires without a permit, little attention seems to be paid either to public education or enforcement action. - File