JET claims lack of transparency by NEPA on Windalco environmental permits

 

The National Environment and Planning Agency [NEPA] is being accused of a lack of transparency on remedial actions taken by Windalco following the chemical spill in the Rio Cobre in July 2022.

 

The Jamaica Environment Trust [JET] says it understands that NEPA has reinstated its notice of intention to suspend Windalco's environmental permits for its Ewarton operation, because the construction of the new effluent holding pond, which was to be completed by December last year, remains incomplete.

 

The deadline for the notice of intention to suspend the permits expired on May 31. 

 

Dr. Theresa Rodriguez Moodie, Chief Executive Officer of JET, contends that there is a need for information on the action to be taken regarding WINDALCO's permits and licenses. 

 

She noted that in November last year, the portfolio minister had promised "open and transparent discussions related to Windalco," but she claimed that this promise has not been kept, as a result of which her organization has had to resume pushing for relevant information to be shared with the public.

 

Dr Rodriguez Moodie, speaking Monday on Radio Jamaica's Beyond the Headlines, said JET has been struggling to get information from the government on updates regarding Windalco.

 

With regard to a more recent allegation of another chemical spill into the Rio Cobre, coming from community members, she said NEPA reported that he had done an assessment and concluded that "there's no evidence of pollution," but she complained that "they haven't actually told us what type of test or assessments have been done, and what are the results."