Jamaica’s Portland Bight: A Biosphere Deferred

As some of you are aware, the Government of Jamaica completed and resubmitted its application to have the Portland Bight Protected Area (PBPA) recognized as a Biosphere Reserve  by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November, 2013 – only to request for it to be set aside (deferred) in late December, 2013. Jamaica would have been only the second country in the English-speaking Caribbean to establish such a reserve, after St. Kitts.

Chief responsibility for that action lies with the Minister of Land, Water, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill. The request for the deferral came from his office citing, “the need to revisit the boundary lines” (of the PBPA). NB: Minister of Youth and Culture Hon. Lisa Hanna chairs Jamaica’s National Commission for UNESCO and Mr. Everton Hannam is Secretary-General.

We all are aware of why the status was set aside. Minister Pickersgill is responsible for incorporating and enacting the climate change policies of the Jamaican Government. The development of the PBPA at Goat Islands by the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) goes against every policy that the Government has adopted in order to help mitigate damages and the affects of climate change.

Please contact Minister Pickersgill and let him know you want the biosphere status returned to the PBPA.

Toll Free Number: 1 888 429 5500
Telephone: 1 876 927 9941 – 3
Fax: 1 876 968 8229
Email: http://opm.gov.jm/contact-us/
Address: c/o Office of the Prime Minister
1 Devon Road
Kingston 10

Read more here: 

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140106/lead/lead1.html Bight betrayal: Government pulls back on biosphere recognition for Portland Bight: Gleaner, January 6, 2014

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140106/lead/lead7.html What is a biosphere reserve area? Gleaner, January 6, 2014

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=50372 Opposition says government underhanded in delay of Jamaica/UNESCO Portland Bight declaration: Gleaner, January 6, 2014

http://go-jamaica.com/pressrelease/item.php?id=2767 Jamaica’s first biosphere reserve soon to be declared in Portland Bight Protected Area: December 12, 2013

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/environment/Regional-countries-agree-to-biosphere-reserves_14016553   Regional countries agree to biosphere reserves: Jamaica Observer: April 10, 2013

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/caribbean_countries_committed_to_establish_biosphere_reserves/#.Ux0KclxZ4Ts Caribbean countries committed to establish biosphere reserves: UNESCO, April 4, 2013