THE EDITOR, Sir:

Let us all agree that there is nowhere on earth like Port Antonio and its environs! Go ahead and use all the positive environmental accolades in terms of natural beauty, uniqueness, and potential for ecotourism, and you will be dead right. Add to that the yeoman service, unselfish advocacy and unnerring dedication of the Portland Environment Protection Association in being the dedicated watchdog of the said environs of Portland over the past two decades or so.

However, an impending situation threatens to erode most or all of the above gains that have been amassed over the years. Someone or persons are desirous of building dwellings on the unique, biologically diverse, ecologically sensitive and historically rich Pelew Island situated off the San San coast, east of Port Antonio. Not only are there stories of person or persons disappearing off the island due to storm surges in hurricanes past, but there are various pertinent questions which must be answered by NEPA, our National Environment Planning Agency, and the Portland Parish Council, which it is alleged has the building plans in the process of being passed!

Here are some of these questions: what will be done with the sewage, liquid waste, grey water and solid waste from the proposed dwellings without compromising the purity of the surrounding waters of San San Beach? This is a limestone area, with sieve-like, porus underlying honey-comb rock formations! How will building and other materials be transported to the island without environmental (accidental or other) compromise? Has a species audit been done to quantify, catalogue, study and evaluate the unique flora and fauna of this island, whose bio-history may be an insight into what it may have been like on the mainland prior to its separation therefrom thousands of years ago, or at latest when Columbus visited? Could there be existing on the island a lone singly existing plant that holds the cure for HIV or some other malady, and it is being left to be destroyed by a contractor's backhoe?

What is the extent of the risk to the fragile system of inshore and offshore coral reefs if human settlements/dwellings are placed on this island? Will this construction damage the image being presented of Port Antonio as having a discerning citizenry that neither builds nor allows building to go on unless all necessary legal and moral steps are taken to ensure environmental integrity? Will this be a repeat of the St. Ann debacle in which hindsight ruled after bad decisions were made to build in an environmentally and culturally sensitive area?

I take this medium to call on all concerned to act with sensitivity to our environmental stewardship, as once damaged, our reputation as one of the 14 most species-rich areas on earth will be tarnished forever.

I am, etc.,

CAPT. JOHN LAMEY

captainlampat@yahoo.com

President

Portland Environment Protection Association

Port Antonio