Gareth Manning, Sunday Gleaner Reporter
During the earlier part of the year, a controversy developed between the Government and environmentalists over the granting of bauxite mining licences in the Cockpit Country. - File
The year 2007 will go down as a year when environmentalists saw the media at home and abroad take more interest in issues concerning the environment and development.
From former United States Vice President Al Gore's Nobel Peace Prize win for his efforts to draw more attention to global warming, to successful local advocacy against prospective mining in the ecologically sensitive Cockpit Country, environmental issues were a major part of news packages all over the world this year.
For the first time, the world saw the United States, the only developed country that has so far not signed the Kyoto protocol, take a bow and at least agree to negotiate how it can help provide technology to reduce emissions in order to complete talks by 2009. Though only a very minor triumph, it is one step further in getting the United States on board to help slow global warming.
In Jamaica, environmental issues were even elevated to the political platform, though still overshadowed tremendously by issues of crime and governance. Nevertheless, environmental and development issues managed to receive some attention and were included among the 100-day promises of the Golding administration. Though it failed to meet the 100-day deadline, the Government is feverishly working to streamline the development process, has already started to restructure the approval process for development plans, and says plans, are under way for downtown Kingston's redevelopment.
Heated campaign
But the real issues on the environmental front burner in 2007 were the heated campaign against mining in the Cockpit Country, and the continued efforts of lobbyists to bear pressure on Government agencies to monitor the construction of large hotels on the north coast.
As there was yet another hotel collapse this year, environmental groups stepped up pressure to get hotels to conform to regulations and building requirements to safeguard against harm to the sensitive marine environment where most of these hotels have been situated.
A subsequent Government probe showed that the Grand Palladium Hotel in Point, Hanover, was negligent in many respects. This led to the collapse of a section of the building, injuring four people. The report by state ministers Robert Montague and Joseph Hibbert showed that the hotel's developers, Fiesta, had failed to follow the conditions outlined by the parish council.
Environmentalists are also currently awaiting the decision of the court after developers of the Gran Bahía Príncipe appealed a decision by the National Environmental Planning Agency (NEPA) to rescind the building permit of Phase Two of its construction in December last year. The hotel had flouted several NEPA building guidelines.
But it was earlier in 2007 that environmentalists made some progress as their lobby against mining in the Cockpit Country yielded some success. A new advocacy group, the Jamaica Environmental Advocacy Network (JEAN), was formed to push the campaign. It took off like wildfire, garnering support from residents in the Cockpit Country, Maroons in Jamaica and around the region, politicians, and the media.
Definition of boundaries
The result was a revocation of prospecting licences granted to two mining entities by the then People's National Party government. A study to determine the boundaries of the Cockpit Country was subsequently commissioned. This time, it would include the voices of residents and environmentalists. The public awaits the result of the study.
"The new JLP administration has said it is not in favour of mining or prospecting in Cockpit Country, but awaits definition of the boundaries. The Jamaica Environmental Advocacy Network met with new Minister of Mining, Clive Mullings, and awaits his release of the boundary study and decision about mining," spokesperson for JEAN, Diana McCaulay, says.
Highlights
International
Former United States Vice President Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change win Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to draw more world attention to the worsening global warming crisis. Mr. Gore and the Intergovernmental panel also played a major part in the documentary 'An Inconvenient Truth', which won two Academy Awards in Hollywood this year.
World leaders, including the United States, agree at a United Nations climate-change conference held in Bali, Indonesia, to negotiate a new global-warming pact.
Locally
Two prospective mining licences were suspended by Government following pressure from environmentalists. A study of the Cockpit's boundaries was commissioned. Public now awaits a decision from Government on mining in the Cockpit Country.
A section of Grand Palladium Hotel collapses in Point, Hanover, in September. Government-commissioned team says hotel developers negligent.
Bahia appeals NEPA's decision to rescind permit for Phase Two of its construction. Decision to be heard in 2008. Issues still waiting to be tackled by Government.
Kingston Harbour still polluted; no comprehensive recycling programme; no hazardous-waste facility, medical waste also not being properly handled; solid-waste management systems remain poor.
Parks and protected areas underfunded.
