ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS HAIL MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND LANDS FOR SUCCESSFUL MEETING 

Three representatives from the Cockpit Country Stakeholders Group (CCSG) and the Jamaica Environmental Advocacy Network (JEAN) met this morning with a delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, led by Minister Roger Clarke.  The meeting followed the December 15^th suspension by Minister Clarke of three prospecting licenses granted earlier for areas within Cockpit Country.  Hugh Dixon from the Southern Trelawny Environmental Agency (STEA), Michael Schwartz from Windsor Research Centre (WRC) and Diana McCaulay from the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) represented the civil society groups. 

Minister Clarke assured the meeting that no prospecting would be allowed in Cockpit Country and environs until the boundaries of the area had been settled.  When asked if the license suspension remained in effect, Minister Clarke explained there were some legal issues to be resolved, but confirmed that the license holders had been told there should be no prospecting until further notice.  Minister Clarke went on to say that once Cockpit Country boundaries had been agreed, the conditions under which mining could take place in other areas would be subject to rigorous review and extensive public consultation. 

“We congratulate the Minister on his response to this matter,” said Hugh Dixon from STEA.  “We urge Minister Clarke to be the person history remembers for his action to protect Cockpit Country from mining.”

Minister Clarke also announced a thorough review of the regulatory framework governing mining in Jamaica.  This will look at a wide range of issues, including the issuance of prospecting licenses and the role of the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI).  “We have long had concerns about the delegation of the environmental regulatory function with regard to the bauxite industry to the JBI, and we are very pleased to hear this matter is under active review,” said Diana McCaulay from JET.

Ministry officials also assured the civil society groups that information would be made available to them and the Access to Information Act would be complied with. 

The group made a technical presentation on the Cockpit Country boundary and Minister Clarke invited Mr. Schwartz and others to make a presentation to the newly appointed Cabinet Sub Committee established to review the Government of Jamaica’s mining policy, where a wide range of views would also be invited.

The representatives of the Cockpit Country Stakeholders group expressed optimism that Cockpit Country would be granted protected area designation under the Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act and closed to all mining and prospecting under the Mining Act.

The Cockpit Country Stakeholders Group consists of twenty civil society groups and a growing list of individuals who are calling for the area to be closed to commercial prospecting and mining.  The Group also wants the area declared a Protected National Area, as stipulated in the 1997 Policy for a National System of Protected Areas in Jamaica.

 

Note: Download the Cockpit Country Stakeholders' Group statement for the meeting with the Hon. Roger Clarke here