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Dr. Edwards Peter, an environmental economist, believes the Jamaican Government might not have fully accounted for the cost of quarrying in the Dry Harbour Mountains, in St Ann, when it gave its approval.
There has been opposition to mining and quarrying in the area since it was revealed that the government granted a permit to Bengal Development Limited.
Dr. Edwards contends that, while the government has pointed to the potential economic benefits, the negative factors must also be accounted for, citing as examples, dust, possible damage to the water table and nearby reefs, “that may impact fisheries and… small scale and localized tourism.”
Benefit
Dr. Edwards, who was speaking Monday on Radio Jamaica’s Beyond the Headlines, asserted that there is no evidence that Jamaicans will benefit from the project to the extent suggested by the government.
He also expressed the view that the government's reversal of the decision by environmental regulators to deny the mining permit to Bengal Development shows the lack of a clear decision-making framework.
It was illogical, he suggested, for there to be a process in which those engaged to provide technical advice on such sensitive matters, can be so easily over ruled by the policy makers.
Compromise?
One political representative, who participated in Monday’s discussion along with Dr Edwards, suggested however that there can be room for compromise regarding these projects.
Dwight Burke, Councillor for the Sligoville division in St. Catherine Municipal Council, who has interests in the mining sector, suggested that in many instances the area of concern is only a small portion of a large geographical area, and this could be separated and given special attention.
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