JET has always been a voice for Jamaica’s natural resources, through various media initiatives such as the coordination of an environmental page for Jamaica’s oldest daily newspapers, the development of public service announcements on the environment, and a range of talks, lectures and seminars for different audiences. JET has also been represented on many national environmental committees. JET’s CEO, Diana McCaulay, has served twice on Jamaica’s environmental regulatory board.

In 2002, JET began working with the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) to develop an environmental law programme for Jamaica. JET’s Treasurer, Sharon Donaldson, a chartered accountant and attorney, attended a 6-week course in Costa Rica on environmental law. Following this, an environmental law and advocacy project proposal was funded by the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ) and JET was able to hire a staff attorney and education officer. We also received funding from the Small Grants Programme of the Global Environment Facility to conduct our advocacy work.

In 2005, in collaboration with the Northern Jamaica Conservation Association (NJCA) and four individuals, JET filed Jamaica’s first Judicial Review legal action on an environmental issue – the Pear Tree Bottom case. JET and NJCA asked the Supreme Court to examine the decision of the environmental regulators to grant a permit for a large hotel in a sensitive wetland area. The legal action resulted in a landmark judgment by Justice Bryan Sykes, which included strong statements about the inadequacy of the public consultation process. The hotel was built, however, as it was well underway by the time the court case was heard.

JET’s legal programme – Protecting Biodiversity through Law - is operated in partnership with ELAW and funded by the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation. We offer training workshops and free legal advice to communities affected by environmental issues, develop campaigns for the protection of important natural resources, use the Access to Information Act to seek information on public interest environmental issues, for review policy documents at the request of the Government of Jamaica, attend public meetings, review Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and engage the media to give prominence to environmental issues in Jamaica.