By Nakinskie Robinson
The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is expected to respond to public concerns about its decision to discontinue criminal charges against Trade Winds Citrus Limited.
NEPA had taken the company to court after it spilled oil in the Rio Cobre in December 2023, resulting in a fish kill.
Chief Executive Officer of NEPA, Lenard Francis, told Radio Jamaica News on Thursday morning that officials are discussing the issue.
Mr. Francis promised to provide additional details by Thursday afternoon.
He said officials are discussing whether NEPA can disclose any aspect of the confidential agreement between the two companies.
The agreement, which was reached through mediation, was done without the court's knowledge.
The decision was made known to the court and the public on Wednesday during a hearing in the St. Catherine Parish Court, when an attorney representing NEPA told the presiding judge that a settlement had been reached with Trade Winds Citrus.
The attorney further stated that NEPA wanted to discontinue the case.
The presiding judge had requested the agreement for the court's scrutiny, a move which was shot down by the attorney who said the agreement was confidential.
Trade Winds was charged for breaches of the Wild Life Protection Act, and NEPA was given the green light by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to prosecute.
The spill emanated from a defective boiler from the old Jamaica Beverage Plant, which is owned and operated by Trade Winds Citrus.
comments powered by Disqus
All feeds
