Mr. Speaker, Today I am providing an update on the Portland Bight/Goat Islands Project.
Members may recall that when I addressed this Honourable House on October 29th last year, I presented the results of an Environmental Management Scoping Project which was commissioned by the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) to identify the legal and regulatory environment, the natural heritage resources, the industrial and commercial interest; as well as, the principal bio-physical and socio-cultural characteristics of the Portland Bight Protected Area.
I indicated, at that time, that the “Scoping Study” was a preliminary study geared to provide information on the present situation in the area of interest; and that it would serve as a useful guide in determining the appropriate issues to be addressed in an Environmental Impact Assessment. I emphasised that the Study was not an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), nor was it a substitute for one.
The Study concluded that the Portland Bight Protected Area is a multi-use national park which hosts important natural heritage resources; as well as, a number of industrial, commercial, residential and agricultural activities. It was, therefore, not an exclusive environmental conservatory. It further concluded that experience with such a mix indicated that it was possible to satisfactorily address or compensate for the environmental impact of the proposed project.
The findings of the Study were posted on the PAJ website and the PAJ conducted a series of consultations with a wide cross section of key stakeholders and interest groups.
What became evident from those initial consultations was that whilst there were objections from some environmental groups, there was also significant enthusiasm and anticipation regarding the proposed project, particularly given its potential impact on employment and Jamaica’s over-all development. The PAJ continued its discussions with China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC) and has now arrived at an Initial Framework Agreement that provides the general terms and conditions under which the discussions will continue….READ MORE