Whose side is NEPA on?

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The Rio Cobre oil spill was an opportunity for National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) to demonstrate its commitment to environmental justice. Unfortunately, the clandestine agreement it reached with the company charged with responsibility for the spill seemingly confirms what many have long suspected; NEPA exists merely to rubber stamp environmental violations.

Even more alarming is the claim by the Natural Resource Conservation Authority (NRCA), NEPA’s governing body, of its ignorance of the deal surrounding this significant environmental disaster. Is NEPA operating outside of its regulatory framework or is NRCA guilty of negligence?

Either way, the ones who ultimately suffer are ordinary Jamaicans trying to eke out an existence. Imagine the horror of those desperate for justice to learn that a deal was struck and suddenly realising that their hope of compensation was all but lost.

Though the Jamaica Environment Trust, the Friends of the Rio Cobre, and other advocacy groups work diligently to protect Jamaica’s natural environment, their efforts will amount to nothing if the regulatory agency with legal responsibility continues to disregard its mandate.

NEPA’s coddling of polluters, instead of mounting a strident defence of environmental issues, begs the question, whose side is it on? The Rio Cobre incident underscores the urgent need for greater oversight of this body. It must be held accountable for decisions that adversely affect Jamaica’s environment and its people. Without such accountability, there is little hope of safeguarding the nation’s natural resources.

MARIA MUTIDJO