I just shared with you two items that I hope will help you to understand many of the issues and the current situation regarding the proposed development of the Portland Bight Protected Area (specifically around Goat Islands) for a transshipment port by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC). As has been repeatedly noted, the Jamaican Government has been extremely reticent in disclosing any details on the planned development, and has blocked requests by the Jamaica Environment Trust for information. Meanwhile, I am sharing with you comments from Jamaicans, obtained from social media – in particular, from the petition website at change.org. I have not shared their names but I think they speak for themselves.
How Can You Help?
Read the Briefing Paper on the Goat Islands/Portland Bight posted by the Jamaica Environment Trust on http://savegoatislands.org, where you can find updates, articles and much information, including ways in which you can help. The link is here: http://savegoatislands.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Goat_Islands_PBPA_Briefing_Paper.pdf
Become a member of the Jamaica Environment Trust! Volunteer, or make a donation… Visit the JET website at www.jamentrust.org for more details.
Buy a Save Goat Islands T-shirt – available via the online form in Jamaica (J$1000) or in the U.S. for $15 at this link: https://www.booster.com/savegoatisland. See the Save Goat Islands website for further details.
Share the short animated video “Don’t mess with Goat Islands,” created by Jamaicans. Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7wAg7y3h2A (It’s very catchy, I warn you!) Lyrics: Inilek Wilmot; Vocals: Quecee; Music: Jeremy Ashbourne. Animation: NivekPro Animations. A new, beautiful PSA video can also be seen at http://savegoatislands.org/photos-videos/videos/
Thousands of people from Jamaica and around the world have signed the petition on change.org, here: http://www.change.org/petitions/no-to-port-on-goat-island-jamaica-no-trans-shipping-port-portland-bight-protected-area-jamaica?share_id=eqkTTbjcGd&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition If you have not signed it yet, please consider doing so and share with anyone who may be interested. It includes many heartfelt comments from supporters, as well as additional articles and information. Please add your thoughts, too!
Write to Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller; President/CEO of the Port Authority of Jamaica Professor Gordon Shirley; Dr. Omar Davies, Minister of Transport and Works; and Robert Pickersgill, Minister of Land Water Environment and Climate Change. Contact information is at savegoatislands.org.
Write to the newspapers: the Jamaica Gleaner (letters@gleanerjm.com) and the Jamaica Observer (editorial@jamaicaobserver.com). If you are overseas, please spread the word online via the media, etc… Please also call radio and television stations to raise the issues.
Join the Facebook page: No! To Port on Goat Island Jamaica. It is updated daily with news, relevant articles and updates, including links from many of our supporting organizations – plus archived information that you are unlikely to find anywhere else. Please also join the Facebook pages of the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (C-CAM), the NGO that manages this Protected Area; and of course that of the Jamaica Environment Trust, which spearheads the campaign in Jamaica.
Follow @SaveGoatIslands and @jamentrust on Twitter.
The Voices of Jamaicans (just a few of the comments over the past two weeks):
“Jamaicans need to wake up. This large state-owned Chinese corporation has no interest in the people of Jamaica, its history or environmental sanctity.”
“We need to safeguard our environment and natural beauty for future generations to enjoy.”
“This is my heritage!”
“Because I still live on planet Earth and want to see the other species allowed to live here too.”
“Preserve the land: preserve our heritage: preserve our people.”
“This area is close to the family of my mother and is important to my cousins.”
“I believe in sustainable living.”
“This is important to me because plants and animals are just as important to the survival of the world even thought they may seem like they ‘hinder development.'”
“I support the protection of all reserved lands, untouched lands and endangered species.”
“I live in Jamaica, I don’t want it to be destroyed over foolishness.”
“We are selling out our birthrights and destroying our natural heritage. Let’s keep fighting for all the voiceless flora and fauna.”
“We need to protect our waters and endangered species!”
“The land is already protected, it’s the law, it’s for the people of Jamaica. Why give it to some foregin country, which doesn’t care about our land.”
“We have to protect the environment for future generations.”
“The Government still has NOT told us what the tangible benefits to Jamaicans will be. I’m sure a lot of money will be made … but relatively very little will be staying in Jamaica.”
“Many fishermen will be jobless if we do not take a stand.”
“Once destroyed it cannot be had again, at least not in the lifetime that we will have, should it be destroyed.”
“Our Country our Future.”
Photos by Max Earle, Ted Lee Eubanks and myself.
Petchary's Blog 
The fisherman will destroy it if it is not sold. Check Hellshire beach and you will see the destruction, or the road to the causeway, the mangroves are so polluted that they are struggling to survive. The fishermen have no clue about the environment and will continue to destroy the coastline and whatever beaches or waterways they can find.
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The fishermen in this area are becoming much more aware. They know about the fish sanctuaries. And the fishermen have certainly NOT damaged the mangroves in any way – they are in excellent condition. Yes, the mangroves near Hellshire have been in decline for years, but that is mainly due to the over-building in the area and squatting, which could have been controlled by the authorities. The whole area is developed. Don’t blame it all on the fishermen – I don’t believe that is the issue at all. Thanks for your comments…
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I love the photo’s Ms. Emma. Can you forward them to me for use on my desktop? I will understand if you can’t. Tx in advance.
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Oh, no problem. Many of them are in Facebook albums but I tell you what, I can email them to you if you like.
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BTW, on the poui tree, they’re also loved by green parrots, who seem to want to make the biggest racket now 🙂
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Oh, OK! We don’t have parrots in this part of town, although a couple flew over yesterday!
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You mention that GoJ has ‘blocked’ JET’s requests for information. Can that be documented?
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I was referring to the GOJ’s denial of a request for information under the Access to Information Act. See JET’s press release on the matter here (they also enclosed a copy of the document signed by Minister Peter Phillips declaring that revealing the information would have an impact on Jamaica’s economy. https://petchary.wordpress.com/2013/10/29/port-authority-refuses-to-disclose-the-mou-regarding-the-logistics-hub-and-port-development/ I believe JET has requested an internal review and will likely appeal.
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