Prime Minister Instructs NEPA to Develop Policy Banning Waste, Effluent Discharges into the Rio Cobre

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has instructed the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) to develop a policy banning the discharge of any waste or effluent into the Rio Cobre.

He made the announcement during his 2024/25 Budget Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Thursday (March 21).

“There are some factories and operations which do have permission to discharge. What we are looking for is to prevent any discharge into the Rio Cobre; and it is not something you could do overnight because along the banks of the Rio Cobre are many establishments which have been there for years, which have predated many of our legislation,” Mr. Holness said.

“So, the process of consultation has started. It is imperative that this be done because we have put in place a new water treatment facility and, therefore, we must protect the body of water,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mr. Holness said the issue of pollution is complex, noting that economic and social activities generate waste, whether solid, liquid or air pollutants (emissions).

He informed that in 2019 and 2020, Jamaica led the region with implementation of the first phases of a ban on specific types of single-use plastics.

“Jamaica is happy with the progress of the International Negotiating Committee to develop a Global Plastic Treaty. We are, however, working to ensure that when this Treaty is finalised, Jamaica is well ahead of its targets and requirements,” Mr. Holness said.

He also highlighted the suite of measures that will be taken in the coming financial year, including Jamaica completing its national policy on the environmentally sound management of single-use plastics.

“We will, this year, begin to separate waste, in particular plastic waste, at all government facilities nationally. Jamaica will also enter phase four of the ban on some plastic materials on June 1 of this year. This phase will include a ban on the manufacture, import and distribution of single-use plastic lunch boxes, and on personal care products using micro plastics,” he indicated.

The Prime Minister informed that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately seven per cent of all plastic bottles were being collected.

“That percentage has increased significantly to 30 per cent. In 2023, 278 million bottles were collected; five years ago, it was only 60 million. We will continue to work with the National Solid Waste Management Authority and Recycling Partners of Jamaica to further ramp up collection and recycling,” Mr. Holness stated.

He also mentioned that the fines in both the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) Act and the Wildlife Protection Act do not function as sufficient deterrent to polluters and, in some cases, rogue developers.

“This is why your Government will be tabling for debate, amendments to raise the fines in both pieces of legislation from a $50,000 ceiling under the NRCA Act and a $1.5 million ceiling under the Wild Life Protection Act to a $5 million ceiling in both pieces of legislation for individuals, but $10 million for Bodies Corporate,” Mr. Holness said.

He added that the relationship between sound environmental management, and the health and resilience of the country’s water supply is obvious.

“So, today I am happy to table Jamaica’s new Watershed Policy (White Paper),” Prime Minister Holness stated.