Gov’t Strengthening Environmental Safeguards

The Government is strengthening monitoring and enforcement of critical pieces of legislation to safeguard the environment.

Speaking in the Upper House on Friday (January 24), Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, said that the measures are being undertaken through the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation in collaboration with National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA).

She noted that NEPA has instituted several interventions to foster a culture of compliance by individuals and entities.

They include development of a special monitoring list, based on specific criteria, which includes those facilities and developments identified as requiring more stringent monitoring.

She also mentioned the establishment of partnerships, such as the inter-agency Regulatory Monitoring and Review Committee for the bauxite and alumina industry.

“These partnerships allow for an enhanced and more joined-up monitoring framework, including several regulatory agencies, in providing the necessary oversight for specific industries, sectors and developments. Also, the expansion of NEPA’s monitoring activities through the conduct of its environmental warden programme on the ground,” Senator Johnson Smith noted.

She informed that NEPA recently trained 30 river wardens, who are responsible for monitoring the Rio Cobre in St. Catherine.

These wardens were pulled from communities along the trajectory of the river and have been trained in taking water samples, as well as in monitoring, so they can become aware of a problem before it becomes too serious.

“It ensures community engagement and buy-in because they have a greater understanding of not only the challenges but of their capabilities. They are empowered to be a part of corrective processes where necessary and prevent circumstances that are damaging from becoming even more so,” Senator Johnson Smith said.

These measures complement recent legislative improvements to ensure more effective enforcement and deterrence.

On Friday, the Senate passed amendments to the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) Act and the Wild Life Protection Act to allow for an increase in fines and related custodial sentences for offences.

Under the amendments, a body corporate that commits an offence will be liable to a fine not exceeding $10 million.

Regarding the discharge of any sewage or trade effluent or any poisonous, noxious or polluting matter, without or in nonconformity with a licence for the purpose granted by the Authority, the penalty has moved to a fine not exceeding $5,000,000 or imprisonment not exceeding five years.

For an environmental impact assessment that was not submitted within the time specified by the Authority, the fines will move to $5,000,000 and a prison term not exceeding three years.

Both pieces of legislation were passed in the House of Representatives recently.