No Building on World Heritage Site

Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna, says no one will be allowed to put up any building in the Blue and John Crow Mountains, which has been designated Jamaica’s first World Heritage Site and the Caribbean’s first World Heritage Mixed (cultural and natural value) Site.

Speaking at a JIS ‘Think Tank’ on September  29,  the Minister made it clear that the area was given the designation because of its natural pristine status and that regulations governing the World Heritage Site will be rigidly enforced.

“You can’t just get up and decide that you want to build, tear down or put up within this protected site. We have a management matrix that has been signed off and put together with all the major ministries that are involved.  We have to make reports to UNESCO at various points of the year and keep them informed,” she said.

The Minister pointed out that the Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust (JCDT) has been entrusted to monitor, manage and enforce the regulations that are required to make sure that the area remains a heritage site.

To ensure that information is disseminated, a public education campaign has been  launched  to raise public awareness of the significance of  the World Heritage Site and its protection.

“We have  launched it to let persons understand what World Heritage is and what goes into having a world heritage site, the protection of it, the entrepreneurship of it and opportunities for the local communities and what needs to be done to protect the environment,” the Minister said.

The second part of the awareness campaign will seek to highlight the role of local communities in the conservation and management of the culture and natural heritage.

In that regard, the Minister said that strategies will be employed to engage local residents, including the Maroons and community members, to have them understand the importance of protecting the world heritage site.

The Blue and John Crow Mountains World Heritage and Mixed (cultural and natural values) site covers over 26,000 hectares and is located in the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, which covers approximately 48,000 hectares.